The acting general secretary of the ASTI has appealed to members to end the in-fighting which has divided the association for the past four years.
John White told the ASTI's convention that a renewed focus on teachers' pay and working conditions would dissipate division within the association.
For the past four years, the ASTI - the country's biggest second level teachers' union - has been bitterly divided over how to run its pay campaign.
After what was described by Mr White as a long and bruising battle, the ASTI voted to accept a deal giving members an increase of more than 20%. But the divisions within the ASTI remain.
Mr White used his address to the convention to appeal for unity. He called for the association to focus on policy rather than personality, and he said internal wrangling and dissent could be ended if teachers concentrated on pursuing better pay and conditions.
The ASTI does not participate in Sustaining Progress negotiations which provides for a further benchmarking exercise.
Mr White called for a debate free from rancour on whether the ASTI's abstentionist policy should continue.
