The incoming president of the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland, has launched a scathing attack on the ICTU and has dampened hopes of the union re-entering congress.
Mr Pat Cahill, who will take over in August, said that the congress agenda had moved closely to that of the employers' group IBEC in recent months and there was now little difference between them.
Reflecting on 15 years of social partnership, he said that while the power of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions had grown, the results for workers were not that impressive when compared to the huge profits generated by business.
Mr Cahill, who was a strident support of ASTI's uncompromising pay stance in recent years, said that ICTU required internal reform before his union could consider rejoining.
His comments came as the conference prepares to discuss a motion on rejoining congress tomorrow.
An early return to ICTU is unlikely as many ASTI members are still bitter about what they regard as the manner in which they were left isolated by congress.
However, those backing closer links between the ASTI and the TUI want immediate progress on the issue. The TUI will not countenance a merger with the ASTI while it remains outside the congress fold.
Mr Cahill is an influential figure in ASTI. A qualified barrister, he is a former GAA footballer with Roscommon. The next vice-president of the ASTI will be Ms Susie Hall, a languages teacher from Malahide, Co Dublin.
On the pay issue, he said that ASTI, far from being defeated, had helped to win the 13 per cent benchmarking award and the €38 an hour supervision deal.
This was widely recognised among teacher colleagues in the INTO and the TUI, he said.
He said he was proud that ASTI was now a "brand" associated with the fight for teachers' pay and conditions.
Most of the debate at the conference yesterday took place in private session as delegates discussed an internal report on alleged financial irregularities.
A report drawn up by ASTI's treasurer, Ms Patricia Wroe, called for a tightening of procedures. This was well received by delegates.
