Pay equity for District Health Board administration and clerical staff is being hailed as an important step.
It means thousands of workers at New Zealand's 20 DHBs who work in the admin and clerical sectors will get pay increases.
Yearly salaries will rise by up to $2500.
"When finalised next year, this will be the first time these workers are covered by one national pay structure with consistent rates nationwide," said Public Service Association (PSA) national secretary Kerry Davies.
Health Minister Andrew Little said the milestone is an important step toward better and fairer pay.
He said the Government was committed to advancing pay equity for workforces largely made up of women.
"The DHB clerical and administration workforce makes an important contribution to [the] provision of health services to New Zealanders," he said in a statement.
"It's unacceptable their work has been undervalued for so long simply because it was predominantly performed by women."
Davies said it was a "tremendous achievement". She said it had been made possible by hard work and courageous campaigning.
"There are currently more than 1500 unique job titles with a very wide range of pay rates across 20 DHBs. When we're finished, we'll have consistent national pay rates, and a job banding structure with rates that address the undervaluation of this workforce."
Women's Minister Jan Tinetti said the milestone will benefit people who have been underpaid due to sex-based discrimination.
"Achieving pay equity and putting more money in the hands of the lowest-paid workers has a significant positive impact on their lives, and is likely to have flow-on benefits to their whānau and the wider community."
An agreement will be voted on by PSA members once report back meetings have concluded.
