ONCE again, Joe O'Toole has them licked. Not only is the INTO getting a good deal from the Government's package but - just as importantly for the high profile Senator - it is seen to be getting a good deal.

In contrast to the slanging matches which have broken out at some of the information meetings organised by the other unions, the INTO sessions have been a series of love ins.

The union's ballot, which was conducted at branch level, the result of which is a foregone conclusion, will be concluded on March 19th, a fortnight before those in other unions.

With typical thoroughness, O'Toole has already briefed branch secretaries, regional meetings, even the Fianna Fail parliamentary party, on the package.

The largest union in the country will still have to swallow a radically new promotions system in primary schools, but the belief in the INTO is that its members are prepared for change far better than its second level counterparts.

The union also believes that primary school managers support this flexibility to a greater extent than the second level managers.

The main enticement for primary teachers is the offer of 2,970 new posts (though most of these are at B level) and a new criterion - teacher numbers rather than points - for awarding posts.

But O'Toole is already looking to the future. "By getting rid of the points system, the number of posts in schools will become a negotiating item in any future talks. So if there are proposals to introduce a new programme, teachers could be compensated by an increase in promotional posts rather than salary rises," he says.

"The difference between us and the nurses is that we didn't look for salary increases for teachers; rather, we aimed to sort out a variety of problems that were affecting the profession. The days of big pay rises are gone.