THE threat of a national teachers' strike was averted yesterday after unions agreed to accept a no-strings 3% deal. The increase, back-dated to April 1, will mean an extra #630-a-year for the average teacher.

Local authority employers also promised to start a long-term review of teachers' salary levels and schools' management structure in the autumn, following the outcome of the Millennium Review, as a way of retaining dedicated teachers in the classroom. The review is expected to conclude on December 31.

The deal was thrashed out at a two-hour meeting of the Scottish Joint Negotiating Committee in Edinburgh. It followed a similar meeting a fortnight ago when a 2.7% bid linked to conditions of service was rejected. Teaching unions originally tabled a bid of 4.7%.

The country's biggest teaching union, the Educational Institute of Scotland, said the deal was the best teachers could expect in the current climate.

However, it leaves them further behind their counterparts south of the Border, who accepted a staggered settlement starting at 2.6%, but rising to 3.8% by the end of the year. The increase also falls below increases in the cost of living.

EIS general secretary Ronnie Smith said: ''While I believe that this is, in the short term, the best deal available in very difficult circumstances, I am in no doubt that if there is no agreement soon on a fair level of pay which properly acknowledges the value of the work done by teachers, that discontent could very quickly turn to anger and resentment.''

The Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association, which represents one in three secondary teachers, said it wanted to ensure the rise was included in teachers' June salaries.

The Millennium Review, which is due to produce its findings next month, is likely to recommend introducing local flexibility into what councils see as the rigid structures perpetuated by the SJNC.

SJNC management side convener Elizabeth Maginnis accepted that the timetable was tight for introducing what would be major changes.