Still, that's probably not much of a silver lining when you're principally after more silver in your pocket. Practical problems still beset the ASTI, which, in spite of its militant mood outside the Dail last Tuesday and its decision over the weekend to escalate its action, seem insurmountable.

The union could - well, in principle - play hardball by totally sabotaging the Junior Cert and Leaving Cert exams next year. But, in practice, its members probably couldn't afford that nor stand the intense public and political heat which would inevitably follow.

Instead, because it's in the interests of so many - teachers, government, pupils, parents - some kind of deal, complete with fudges, will be cobbled together and sold through the media. While the core of this dispute centres on teachers' 30 per cent pay demand and their concerns about "status", it is fundamentally a battle for society's sense of values.

Many workers, who could afford to, might well forsake a large chunk of their pay to have teacher-length holidays. Who knows? But, given the matter in hand, it may be that the ASTI will have to lose the tactical battle to invigorate debate about realpolitik, which has rather too much vigour as things stand. Within the culture of the "bottom line", the ASTI strike has valuable lessons for Irish society. Do we want an economy to serve people or people to serve an economy? Discuss.

Eddie Holt is a lecturer in Dublin City University and a columnist in the Weekend supplement of The Irish Times.