Industrial peace was in sight for one of Britain’s most troubled industries on Friday after shop stewards voted to recommend a two-year pay and conditions deal for up to 30,000 construction workers at power stations and petrochemical sites.

Unite and the GMB will urge members to accept the deal after months of unofficial walkouts at engineering construction sites across the UK, including Total’s Lindsey oil refinery in Lincolnshire. The result of the consultative ballot will be known within a fortnight.