Members of the Unite trade union have been advised to reject a new public service pay agreement.

Representatives met on Wednesday following several weeks of consultation with members.

They voted overwhelmingly to recommend rejection of the proposed Public Sector Stability Agreement.

Balloting will begin on Monday August 21st, and will finish on Friday September 8th.

Unite will cast votes in accordance with the outcome of the ballot when the ICTU Public Services Committee meets on September 18th.

Wednesday's meeting decided that Unite will be bound by the results of that aggregate ballot.

The agreement provides for pay restoration and other improvements for workers in the public service.

Speaking after the meeting, Unite regional coordinating officer Richie Browne said: "The overwhelming vote to recommend rejection of the proposed PSSA reflects our members’ anger at the fact that, by the end of the proposed agreement, workers will have waited 12 years to have their pay restored.

"Members are also frustrated at the lack of sufficient progress on the Croke Park hours - a cost-saving measure only partially ameliorated by the proposal for workers to ‘buy back’ hours.

"Unite members working in the public sector are not prepared to continue paying the price for a crisis not of their making".

The Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants (AHCPS) and SIPTU have voted to accept the deal.

While the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) rejected the proposals by a majority of 89%.