Pay, undoubtedly the top issue of the week for TUI delegates, was finally brought into debate on the closing day of the union's annual congress, yesterday.
A substantial majority of delegates passed a motion supporting the pay strategy currently being followed by the union. The motion, not part of the original agenda, was introduced by the executive yesterday morning.
Speaking after the vote, the general secretary, Mr Jim Dorney, said he was very pleased the motion was carried by a large majority. "It endorses the strategy we have taken up over the past year and it commits us to carrying out this policy to fruition."
TUI president Mr John Mac Gabhann, said it was significant the union had taken the view that "we can and will make benchmarking work". He said he realised there was still anxiety about the process, but assured members: "We will not barter our conditions of service."
He reassured members they would be balloted on the proposals arising from the benchmarking body and said: "It is very clear our members will not accept anything other than a very significant increase in pay."
However, a substantial number of delegates were deeply unhappy that benchmarking was still the union's only strategy for pursuing the pay claim.
"We are embarking on a high-risk strategy," said Mr Tom Dooley of Dundalk IT. "We're leaving ourselves without an exit if the benchmarking body doesn't deliver what we hope it will. We need to put in place some sort of exit strategy."
Executive member Mr Eddie Conlon, also calling for alternative strategies, said the lesson to be learned from the ASTI dispute was teacher unions could not fight alone.
"If we reject the bench marking award we are going to need our colleagues in the other two unions. Let the message go out today that we want to work with our colleague unions because we may have a fight on our hands."
Former TUI president Mr Joe Carolan criticised the ASTI, saying: "The ASTI strategy is a failed strategy. It has got them nothing and left them nowhere. We have a strategy that is going to lead us and get us, I believe, a significant increase."
