Teachers' union leader dies suddenly

Published on Saturday 5 April 2008 19:47

STEVE Sinnott, the general secretary of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), has died from a suspected heart attack just weeks before he was due to lead the first national teachers' strike in England and Wales for 21 years in a dispute over pay.

Sinnott, 56, was said to have been in a "buoyant" mood about the strike, enjoying the support for the action that he was receiving from colleagues. But he complained of feeling ill on Friday and died suddenly early yesterday morning.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "Steve Sinnott was inspirational in his devotion to teaching, not just for children in Britain but around the world. His commitment to teachers and education will be remembered."

Devastated NUT officials described Sinnott as "the most compassionate of men".

The union pledged to go ahead with the one-day strike over pay on April 24 as the best way to show respect for its former leader.

In a statement, the NUT said: "The loss of Steve Sinnott is grievous for the teaching profession, catastrophic for all NUT members and desperately sad for his colleagues and friends."

Christine Blower, who becomes the NUT's acting general secretary, added: "I know that he would have wanted the union to go ahead with all its campaigns, because he believed in all of them with his heart as well as his head.

"The best way to mark our respect would be to maximise the effect of the campaigns to which he was so committed."

Schools Secretary Ed Balls said he was "deeply shocked and saddened" at the news.