Moves towards greater unity between the three teacher unions are expected to intensify after ASTI members voted overwhelmingly to return to the Ictu.
In a ballot of members, almost 80 per cent of ASTI members backed returning to the Congress fold. The vote clears the way for more formal links with the other teacher unions, the INTO and the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI).
There will also be renewed speculation about an ASTI/TUI merger - but formal unity seems unlikely in the short term.
Yesterday, the ASTI general secretary, John White, said the vote means ASTI members will "be able to work together with the broader trade union movement for the good of teachers and the education service".
Jim Dorney, general secretary of the TUI, said the vote "removes one of the biggest obstacles to the development of a greater identity of interest among the three teacher unions. This could be another step towards an ultimately unified 'umbrella' teachers' union," he said.
The INTO's John Carr said co-operation would continue "as teachers at both first and second level face many of the same challenges. There is more to unite teachers than to divide them."
The ASTI vote signals the formal end of its six-year campaign, which saw the union close schools in pursuit of its 30 per cent pay claim.
The union's "solo run", in which it left Congress and broke ranks with the other teacher unions, damaged relations between ASTI and the other teacher unions.
The other unions blame ASTI for damaging the public perception of teachers by what was seen as reckless and irresponsible action. The ASTI dispute is now seen by many experts as a case study in poor industrial relations strategy.
ASTI itself has yet to fully recover from the dispute. It still has to recover the power and influence it enjoyed before it.
During the dispute, the union was riven by a bitter internal conflict between a group loyal to former general secretary Charlie Lennon and a militant group loyal to former ASTI president Bernadine O'Sullivan. Some of these divisions remain although Mr White stressed yesterday that the union was anxious to move on.
Last year, the three teacher unions adopted motions at their annual meetings calling for closer co-operation on matters of mutual interest.
Since then, they have worked on the preparation of a joint pay claim to the next benchmarking body. There has also been close co-operation between teacher representatives on the new Teaching Council and in regular meetings of the Teacher Conciliation Council.
Education sources say that while a merger is some way off, talks could begin on some kind of federated structure involving the three unions.
