An effective union should be able to offer financial concessions to its members which will save them the cost of their annual subscription. That is the view of Irish National Teachers' Organisation general secretary, Senator Joe O'Toole. "The INTO is not there yet, but we're nearly there," he says.

The INTO has been one of the pioneers in developing fringe benefits for its members. "The old days of trade unions dealing only with conditions and salaries are gone," he adds.

The organisation offers a selection of benefits and is negotiating a deal with Eircell that will mean cheaper mobile phone calls for teachers. In another arrangement with Compustore it receives a commission every time the company sells an INTO approved computer to a school.

This scheme is so lucrative that the INTO has been able to employ an information technology specialist on the strength of it, who advises teachers and schools on IT problems.

"I believe banks and credit card groups have to get their act together and learn how to cultivate this market. If we can deliver 5,000 or 6,000 accounts at a time they should have people to develop those accounts," Senator O'Toole adds.

The union executive has a subcommittee which examines proposals for fringe benefits. But he says: "I will not use members' subs to pay for these. They must stand or fall on their own merits".