Industry News
NUT secretary dies
Posted on 7th April 2008
General secretary of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) Steve Sinnott has died aged 56.
Mr Sinnott was leader of the union for four years. His death comes days after the NUT announced the first teacher strike in 21 years.
He began his teaching career in 1975 in Liverpool and remained in the north-west until his election to the position of deputy secretary of the NUT in 1994.
Ministers this weekend said they were "shocked and saddened" by the news and the NUT called it a "tragic loss".
Gordon Brown said: "Steve Sinnott was inspirational in his devotion to teaching, not just for children in Britain, but around the world."
In a statement, acting secretary of the NUT Christine Blower said Mr Sinnott would have wanted the union to go ahead with the campaigns that he believed in "with his heart as well as with his head".
She said there would be an opportunity to properly remember him and honor his achievements at a "later stage". She said that the best way for teachers to mark their respect now would be through maximising the effect of the planned campaigns.
Mr Sinnott leaves a wife, two children and two grandchildren.