Government workers have accepted a 4.5 percent salary increase effective from October 1, 2004 until September 30, 2005, Government stated yesterday.

Civil servants voted ?overwhelmingly? to accept the salary increase at a meeting at the end of last month.

The Government negotiation team was headed by Assistant Cabinet Secretary Judith Hall-Bean, while public service representatives were headed by Ed Ball Jr., executive secretary of the Bermuda Public Services Union (BPSU).

In a joint statement, Mrs. Hall-Bean and Mr. Ball said they were happy to see the ratification of what they both termed ?a reasonable settlement?.

The pair said the dialogue had concluded with a negotiated settlement that was responsive to the needs of the membership while considering Government?s ability to pay.