The Post Primary Teachers' Association (PPTA) has agreed to arbitration in hopes to put an end to the industrial dispute between secondary teachers and the Government.
PPTA acting president Chris Abercrombie hopes an independent arbitration panel will review the matters at hand "fairly and objectively" and provide recommendations that would form the basis of a new collective agreement.
In a statement, Abercrombie said all industrial action has been called off immediately while the arbitration process goes ahead.
"There will be no further industrial action while the arbitration process works through to its conclusion."
The end-to-strike action has also been agreed, which Abercrombie said is a "gesture of our commitment to this process"
"However given the timing of this we acknowledge that schools may need time to implement the change."
He hopes the process will allow teachers to return to a settled environment for the long term and the arbitration will ultimately produce a "fair and reasonable outcome for PPTA members".
The PPTA said three independent arbitration panel members will be announced within the week, with the process being held in private and expected to take three weeks from the time the panel convenes.
It added a further two weeks are expected too to allow the Government to respond to the panel's recommendations and for PPTA members to vote on a potential settlement.
"Paid union meetings scheduled for next week will still take place. The purpose of these meetings will be to discuss the arbitration process and the move to individual employment agreements for all members from 1 July," the statement read.
