SIPTU members working in the public sector have voted to accept the Haddington Road proposals on pay and reform. Following a ballot of members, they decided by 76% to 24% in favour of the proposals.

The union represents over 200,000 Irish workers.

Responding to the result of the ballot, SIPTU Vice-President, Patricia King, said "We welcome the result of this ballot which followed a period of consultation and discussions among our members in the public service".

"We now hope that we can move on to implementing the reform process in order to improve the services for those who depend on them while protecting the jobs, terms and conditions of those who provide them.”Replace this first line with the story slug" she added.

Earlier this week primary teachers also voted - by 63% - to accept the proposals, describing them as 'the lesser of two evils'. Earlier this year, members had rejected the Croke Park 2 deal but after subsequent changes by the government it led to the Haddington Road proposals.

While last week members of the Unite trade union rejected the proposals with almost 3/4 of members voting against it.

Unite represents around 6,000 of the government's 290,000 employees and joins the CPSU and 2 of the main teachers unions - the TUI and the ASTI - in opposing the deal.

Back in May, the Executive Committee of IMPACT trade union said it would sign-up to the deal without holding a formal ballot.