Members of Unite the union employed as school support staff by the Education Authority have won their dispute over a pay and grading review.
It means there will be an additional £130 million in salaries over the next eight months for the 20,000 staff, bringing a conclusion to two years of industrial action.
Bus drivers, bus escorts, classroom assistants, caterers, cleaners, administration staff and others involved in the industrial action can expect a significant uplift, the union said.
The dispute had seen the closure of classrooms due to a lack of staff, and was particularly felt by special schools.
Unite entered negotiations with EA management alongside the other three education trade unions seeking the implementation of a pay and grading review.
As part of the deal, entry-level pay rates will be sharply increased.
This should aid recruitment, addressing a crisis in the sector in attracting workers.
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Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Education workers in Northern Ireland have won a very significant improvement to pay.
“Members of Unite have been on picket lines on and off for more than two years to achieve this outcome and have had the full support of the union in doing so.
“Without that powerful strike action, these workers would still be waiting for implementation of a pay and grading review first recommended in 2018.
“Once again, this result confirms that when Unite members get organised and stand up for themselves, they can win real improvements to their pay and conditions.”
Unite regional officer Kieran Ellison added: “This is a genuine win for our members and for the education sector as a whole.
“Since this offer has already been agreed by two of the three remaining education trade unions, that provides a majority, which means it will now be implemented.
“As a result, the total budget for pay of school support staff in Northern Ireland will increase by £130m over the next eight months, with further incremental increases in April 2025, 2026 and 2027.
“This outcome ends our ongoing industrial dispute and confirms Unite’s role at the forefront of the fight to improve pay and conditions for school support workers.”
Earlier in the summer Education Minister Paul Givan said he welcomed the decision by unions to consult with members on the pay offer aimed at bringing the dispute to an end.
He said at the time: “I am pleased that this significant progress has been achieved in advance of the summer break in schools.
“I will continue to work with the unions and Executive colleagues to deliver a resolution before the start of the new school year.”