The ASTI is set to call a special convention to consider the supervision dispute, as hopes rise that schools can function normally next week.
The union's powerful Standing Committee, which begins a two-day meeting later today, is likely to set in train a new consultation process with members which will lead to a special convention, probably next month.
Amid signs that the hardline stance of the union is softening, the special convention will discuss a range of issues including:
The ban on supervision and substitution which has been in place since March;
A new offer from the Department of Education which will make supervision payments pensionable;
The benchmarking report which awarded teachers 13 per cent.
The decision to actually call the convention will probably be taken by a meeting of the union's 180-member Central Executive Committee (CEC) shortly.
Department of Education officials will meet members of the INTO and the TUI today and tomorrow to work out how the supervision payments will be made pensionable. Teachers stand to gain an additional €1,400 per annum from supervision at a rate of €37 per hour.
The ASTI will not attend today's meeting because of its ban on supervision but its 17,000 members will be watching developments closely. One ASTI source said yesterday: "If there is a good deal on pensions on the table when all teachers return next Monday, it could transform the situation."
Meanwhile, a senior school manager has expressed optimism that schools will function without major difficulties next week, despite the ASTI ban on supervision. Mr George O'Callaghan, of the Joint Managerial Board, said the phased opening of schools this week had given school authorities the "breathing space" they required to recruit supervisors. Many of these had already worked in schools since March. He was optimistic there would be no major disruption.
The ASTI decision to ban supervision until its wider pay dispute was resolved was taken at its convention last April. Another convention is required to rescind or change this policy.
Mr P.C. Shelly, the ASTI president, said today's meeting would most probably put a process in place to consider a broad range of issues. This course of action may, he said, result in a special convention.
Yesterday, the Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey stressed he was happy to meet the union.
Today's ASTI meeting will also consider the union ban on co-operation with new Leaving Cert syllabi in Home Economics and Biology.