EXCLUSIVE Hard-Left new teachers' union leader (who isn't a teacher!) faces racism claims from his last job

Daily Mail​

26-04-2025

A hard-Left ex-fireman chosen to run a major teaching union is facing multiple allegations of racism and bullying, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.
Matt Wrack, a militant socialist who formerly led the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), was named as the new general secretary of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) on Tuesday despite having no teaching experience.
A day later, an injunction application to have Mr Wrack's appointment rescinded was made after a would-be candidate was barred from running for the post.
An MoS investigation has discovered that Mr Wrack is at the centre of three different employment tribunal disputes relating to his time at the FBU.
Among the claims, it is alleged Mr Wrack racially discriminated against an Asian member of the FBU's executive council and personally blocked a black firefighter from joining the union.
The claims are set to go to separate tribunal hearings.
The MoS asked if Mr Wrack had declared the claims. He and the NASUWT declined to answer. Mr Wrack's appointment to the UK's second largest teaching union has prompted fears that the NASUWT could swing to the Left.
The Jeremy Corbyn ally has been criticised by government sources for being 'overly combative'.
Jewish leaders have also accused Mr Wrack of being insensitive to the problem of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party. Speaking at the FBU's conference in 2016, Mr Wrack said 'the so-called furore about so-called anti-Semitism in the Labour Party' was 'in reality about an attack on the Left'.
Now his uncontested appointment to the £130,000-per-year job has triggered legal action, with lawyers acting on behalf of potential candidate Neil Butler, the NASUWT's national officer for Wales, claiming that Mr Butler was barred from running.
It is the first time the union has not been run by a former teacher, despite being Britain's only union exclusively for teachers.
Separately, Mr Wrack has come under scrutiny in recent years over the FBU's use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). Tens of thousands of pounds were paid in NDA payments to at least two FBU officials and one FBU staff member, all of whom left their roles after complaining that Mr Wrack mistreated them.
The new allegations about Mr Wrack are set to be aired at upcoming employment tribunal hearings. Two claims are against the FBU and involve allegations about Mr Wrack in his capacity as FBU general secretary.
These have been brought by FBU official Jon Lambe and union member Mohammed Ahmed. The third, brought by FBU executive council member David Shek, is against both Mr Wrack and the FBU.
Last night Mr Wrack said: 'These claims are false and without merit as will be shown in a tribunal in due course. I am pleased that the FBU, on very strong legal advice, is defending the union itself, other FBU officials and me from these false claims.'
An FBU spokesman said: 'The Fire Brigades Union is aware of claims brought against the union and our former general secretary, Matt Wrack.
'We will not go into any details of these claims as they are all still subject to legal proceedings. However, we can report that all of the claims lodged against the FBU and Matt Wrack will be vigorously defended by the union.
'We have robustly defended both ourselves and Matt Wrack from the outset against these claims and will continue to do so. Our legal team's advice is that the claims brought against the FBU and Matt Wrack are without merit.
'The FBU has a long and dedicated record of campaigning against racism and all forms of discrimination. Our record speaks for itself.'