Youthreach workers have voted four-to-one in favour of a deal arrived at through arbitration. The result has been welcomed by the TUI. The union's members voted to accept a decision by the Public Service Arbitration Board to increase salaries of Youthreach co-ordinators and resource persons. Youthreach staff teach 15- to 18-year-olds who have dropped out of school early or left without qualifications.

The findings also provide for an annual degree allowance of £1,500, with lower amounts for those with certain diploma and certificate qualifications. They also provide for fixed purpose contracts for the duration of the Youthreach programme, subject to a minimum of two years.

The findings, given to the union before Christmas, were put out for ballot by the TUI without recommendation. The vote in favour was 77 per cent.

"I welcome this clear-cut ballot result by members," says TUI president Joe Carolan. "It goes some way towards resolving this longstanding and unjust anomaly whereby teachers of the most disadvantaged are themselves disadvantaged in terms of pay and conditions."