The executive committee of the country's largest public sector union has recommended acceptance of the proposed new national pay agreement, Towards 2016.
IMPACT's executive said it was confident that the pay terms would outstrip inflation and that no other process could deliver better improvements in living and employment standards.
A ballot of the union's 55,000 members will conclude on 11 August.
IMPACT General Secretary Peter McLoone said factors influencing the union's recommendation included the pay element, (10% over 27 months), employment standards protection and the terms of public service modernisation.
Earlier, the executive of one of the country's largest private sector unions recommended acceptance of the new national [partnership deal.
The decision was made by a majority of the executive of the Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union which has 40,000 members in the electrical contracting industry, manufacturing and construction.
The union will conduct a postal ballot to decide if it should formally back the pay deal at ICTU's special delegate conference in September.
TEEU General Secretary Owen Wills said the executive had made its decision on the balance of the pros and cons of the new agreement.
