The deal also sees a reduction in the working week from 38 to 37.5 hours, a cut in the morning tea break to a quarter-of-an-hour, and the abolition of the afternoon tea break.

The agreement has been reached between the Building & Engineering Services Association (B&ES) and the operatives’ trade union Unite and mainly covers firms involved in commercial  pipefitting and ductwork.

Wage rates and allowances will remain at their current level until Monday 6 October this year, when an increase of 2.5% on all hourly rates will be applied.

A second increase of 3% in the hourly rate and associated benefits will be introduced with effect from Monday 5 October 2015.

Peter Rimmer, B&ES head of employment affairs and skills, said: “As well as providing operative labour cost certainty over the next two-and-a-half years, the new arrangements significantly enhance productive time by removing the afternoon tea break and limiting the morning break to 15 minutes.

“This has allowed a small reduction in the length of the working week which, effectively managed, should also lessen the need for overtime working.”