In a result which marks the end of the ASTI's long-running pay dispute, a huge majority of its members have voted for benchmarking and the national pay deal.
The result, announced yesterday, showed 75 per cent in favour and 25 per cent against. The turnout, at just over 40 per cent, was low when compared to similar ballots in the other teaching unions.
The vote opens the way for all the teaching unions to receive the 13.5 per cent from the benchmarking body. A quarter of the award - about 3.25 per cent - is due from December 2001, so the average teacher will be receiving "back money" of about €1,400 before tax.
In backing benchmarking, the three teaching unions have agreed to discussions on such issues as parent-teacher meetings at night and a standardised school year.
Yesterday ASTI leaders joined the other teaching unions for a meeting at the Department of Education to consider payment of the money due.
The ASTI vote heralds a period of industrial peace in the classrooms after one of the most bitter and divisive disputes of recent years. Last month ASTI members also voted to back the new €38-per-hour supervision and substitution offer.
For three years the ASTI leadership had vehemently opposed benchmarking. It argued that the process would lead to the "industralisation" of teaching. ASTI leaders also said that it would open the way for performance-related pay.
The benchmarking report made no reference to performance-related pay. The payment is contingent only on discussions on "modernisation", but the teaching unions are not obliged to sign up to any new demands.
Almost all the main ASTI leaders, with the exception of the general secretary, Mr Charlie Lennon, and some others, are opposed to benchmarking. But yesterday's vote would suggest that these views are no longer representative of the broad mass of members.
The strong vote in favour means that moves to forge closer links between the ASTI and the other teaching unions may now gather pace. Three years ago the ASTI cut itself adrift from the INTO and the TUI when it left the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU).
The ASTI conference at the end of the month will consider motions for a stronger alliance with the INTO and the TUI. It will also hear calls for the ASTI to return to the ICTU.
Sources say it is unlikely that this will happen in the short term. One source said: "There will now be a period of reflection. Then we will look at issues like ICTU".