The Service and Food Workers Union says it will go back to the country's district health boards to see if a pay dispute can be resolved ahead of a strike by thousands of hospital workers.
More than 2,500 support staff picketed hospitals for two hours on Friday.
The union says the Government has imposed restrictions on the DHBs that have resulted in a wage freeze for workers.
Its northern region secretary, Jill Ovens, says workers have now voted in favour of a 24-hour strike late next month, and it's likely other unions representing public sector staff will join in.
But she says the whole thing could still be avoided if the DHBs show they are willing to address the problem.
