Teachers may be offered a down-payment from the Government's new pay review body, in a move designed to dampen revolt in the profession.
The review process could secure extra money for teachers as early as next June, the Minister for Education, Mr Woods, has hinted.
Yesterday, on the first of eight days of industrial action by teachers, more than 600 schools were closed and about 350,000 pupils had their classes cancelled.
There will be more disruption tomorrow when teachers withdraw supervision and the vast majority of students remain at home.
Yesterday was described as "quiet and without major hitches" by Mr George O'Callaghan, the general secretary of the Joint Managerial Body, which represents most school managers.
In an unexpected move during a protest by the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) outside the Department of Education in Marlborough Street, Dublin, several members of the other two teacher unions - the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) and the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) - joined their ASTI colleagues in a show of solidarity.
Established under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness (PPF), the pay review body, also known as the "benchmarking body", examines how private-sector pay and conditions might be reflected across the public sector.
In a section headed "Pay - Possible Options", a briefing document circulated to public service unions hints that teachers and other public service groups could win an unspecified downpayment before the benchmarking body finalises its report.
It also says teachers and other groups can be rewarded, not just for future changes in work practices, but also for past changes.
ASTI says its members have transformed the education system in recent years and they should be rewarded for this.
In a signal that teaching or other unions could gain representation on the benchmarking review board, the document states: "There is an understanding that some people from a trade union background might be included in the secretariat on a secondment basis, becoming full-time employees of the review body."
Dr Woods signalled the benchmarking body could be fast-tracked and hinted the review could deliver money for teachers possibly as early as next June.
The benchmarking body - set up under the national pay deal - is not due to report until June 2002.
However, the briefing document says it may not be easy to fast-track the review because of "all the research and analysis required".
Despite the various developments, ASTI appeared unlikely to participate in the first meeting of the body on Monday.
Dr Woods invited them to attend the first session - involving the public services unions - and the review body, but there was little sign of the invitation being accepted last night.
ASTI general secretary Mr Charlie Lennon accused the Minister of "misrepresenting the purpose of next Monday's meeting".
The whole benchmarking process was still in a state of development, he said.
It could not deal with special interest pay claims like ASTI's, he added. "It is an obtuse and obscure body."