The province and the New Brunswick Nurses Union reached a four-year collective agreement Tuesday that incorporates the government's 2011-2012 public sector wage-freeze initiative.

The agreement provides for two years of zero per cent increases, followed by one per cent increases every six months during 2013 and 2014, announced Human Resources Minister Troy Lifford.

"The [negotiating] teams also addressed items surrounding pay equity and job classifications, which are important factors in employee retention," said Lifford in a press release.

The union represents more than 6,000 registered nurses across the province working in hospitals, public health, community health and extra-mural programs.

On Jan. 14, the province announced that a tentative agreement had been reached pending a ratification vote.

Nurses voted 91 per cent in favour of the last contract in January 2009, ending a battle with the province that could have led to New Brunswick's first nurses' strike.

That deal, which expired on Dec. 31, 2010, included salary increases of 11.5 per cent over the term of the contract, increases in evening, night and weekend premiums and a retention premium of three per cent for nurses with 25 years or more experience.