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Hard-Left firebrand elected head of major teaching union despite having never been a teacher - after just 4.7% of members take part in vote
Hard-Left firebrand elected head of major teaching union despite having never been a teacher - after just 4.7% of members take part in vote

Daily Mail​

time7 days ago

  • Politics
  • Daily Mail​

Hard-Left firebrand elected head of major teaching union despite having never been a teacher - after just 4.7% of members take part in vote

A hard-Left firebrand has been elected to lead a major teaching union, despite having never worked as teacher. Matt Wrack was voted in as the general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union after a controversial election which saw legal action taken to prevent his appointment. Mr Wrack is a former firefighter who spent 20 years as leader of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) until earlier this year and has never worked as a teacher. The NASUWT leadership tried to install him as the successor to outgoing general secretary Pat Roach earlier this year, but it was forced to hold a vote after members objected. However, the scale of the vote suggests deep dissatisfaction with the process and raises questions about his legitimacy. Turnout for the election, the first contested vote for a new leader since 1990, was just 4.7 per cent. Mr Wrack secured 5,249 votes to beat Neil Butler, NASUWT's national officer for Wales, who received 3,126 votes. The union's president, Wayne Broom, insisted the result 'reflects (members) confidence' In Wrack, despite just 2.9 per cent of them backing him. Mr Wrack secured 5,249 votes to beat Neil Butler, NASUWT's national officer for Wales, who received 3,126 votes. Mr Wrack was announced as union leader in April after he was endorsed by the national executive to replace Patrick Roach. However, Mr Butler took legal action against the union after its national executive committee told him he was not eligible to stand for the position as a non-member. Mr Butler and Luke Lockyer, the union's president in Wales, sought 'injunctive relief' to force the union to reopen nominations. NASUWT reached an agreement to head off High Court legal action over the ballot, and the union agreed to pay £65,000 of Mr Butler and Mr Lockyer's costs and VAT. NASUWT announced in June that the leadership election would go ahead after Mr Wrack and Mr Butler both met the threshold of being nominated either by the NASUWT national executive or by a minimum of 25 local associations. Mr Wrack said: 'I am immensely honoured to be elected general secretary of NASUWT. 'I want to thank every member who participated in this election for placing their trust in me. 'NASUWT is a proud and powerful voice for teachers, and together we will make that voice even stronger. 'I pay tribute to Dr Patrick Roach for his years of service and to Neil Butler for a spirited campaign that highlighted the issues our members care about. 'Now, our priority is unity and action. 'Teachers have endured years of underinvestment, overwork, and undervaluing of our profession. 'We urgently need Government to invest in education – that means fair pay, manageable workloads, and safe, respectful working environments for staff and students. 'I will work tirelessly with our executive and activists across all nations to secure the conditions and respect teachers deserve. 'This is a critical moment for education, and NASUWT will lead the way in fighting for our members' rights.' Mr Broom said: 'We congratulate Matt on his election as general secretary of NASUWT. 'This election engaged our members up and down the country, and the result reflects their confidence in his leadership. 'Matt will play a vital role in the next chapter of the union's work on behalf of teachers across the UK. 'The national executive and I look forward to working closely with him as we continue our mission to put teachers first. 'We also want to thank Neil Butler for standing in this election and for his ongoing service to NASUWT – his dedication exemplifies the strength of this union's democracy.'

Former firefighters' union chief Matt Wrack wins NASUWT leadership election
Former firefighters' union chief Matt Wrack wins NASUWT leadership election

The Independent

time23-07-2025

  • Politics
  • The Independent

Former firefighters' union chief Matt Wrack wins NASUWT leadership election

Matt Wrack has been elected as the permanent general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union. The union held its first contested leadership election in decades after it faced legal action over the appointment of its new leader. Mr Wrack, the former leader of the Fire Brigades Union, secured 5,249 votes to beat Neil Butler, NASUWT's national officer for Wales, who received 3,126 votes, the union has announced. A postal ballot of members closed on Wednesday. Only 4.7% of eligible NASUWT members took part in the first contested leadership election since 1990. Mr Wrack was announced as union leader in April after he was endorsed by the national executive to replace Patrick Roach. However, Mr Butler took legal action against the union after its national executive committee told him he was not eligible to stand for the position as a non-member. Mr Butler and Luke Lockyer, the union's president in Wales, sought 'injunctive relief' to force the union to reopen nominations. NASUWT reached an agreement to head off High Court legal action over the ballot, and the union agreed to pay £65,000 of Mr Butler and Mr Lockyer's costs and VAT. NASUWT announced in June that the leadership election would go ahead after Mr Wrack and Mr Butler both met the threshold of being nominated either by the NASUWT national executive or by a minimum of 25 local associations. Mr Wrack said: 'I am immensely honoured to be elected general secretary of NASUWT. 'I want to thank every member who participated in this election for placing their trust in me. 'NASUWT is a proud and powerful voice for teachers, and together we will make that voice even stronger. 'I pay tribute to Dr Patrick Roach for his years of service and to Neil Butler for a spirited campaign that highlighted the issues our members care about. 'Now, our priority is unity and action. ' Teachers have endured years of underinvestment, overwork, and undervaluing of our profession. 'We urgently need Government to invest in education – that means fair pay, manageable workloads, and safe, respectful working environments for staff and students. 'I will work tirelessly with our executive and activists across all nations to secure the conditions and respect teachers deserve. 'This is a critical moment for education, and NASUWT will lead the way in fighting for our members' rights.' Wayne Broom, NASUWT president, said: 'We congratulate Matt on his election as general secretary of NASUWT. 'This election engaged our members up and down the country, and the result reflects their confidence in his leadership. 'Matt will play a vital role in the next chapter of the union's work on behalf of teachers across the UK. 'The national executive and I look forward to working closely with him as we continue our mission to put teachers first. 'We also want to thank Neil Butler for standing in this election and for his ongoing service to NASUWT – his dedication exemplifies the strength of this union's democracy.'

Matt Wrack elected general secretary of NASUWT in contested leadership battle
Matt Wrack elected general secretary of NASUWT in contested leadership battle

The Guardian

time23-07-2025

  • Politics
  • The Guardian

Matt Wrack elected general secretary of NASUWT in contested leadership battle

Matt Wrack, a former leader of the firefighters' union, has been elected as permanent general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union following a ballot in which less than 5% of eligible members voted. He beat challenger, Neil Butler, winning 5249 votes to his rival's 3126, after the NASUWT's first contested leadership election for a generation. The union had previously announced that Wrack had been elected unopposed, but it was put to the ballot after Butler, the NASUWT's national officer for Wales, launched a legal challenge to the executive's decision. Wrack, who led the Fire Brigades Union for 20 years, thanked NASUWT members for placing their trust in him. 'NASUWT is a proud and powerful voice for teachers, and together we will make that voice even stronger. Now, our priority is unity and action. 'Teachers have endured years of underinvestment, overwork, and undervaluing of our profession. We urgently need government to invest in education – that means fair pay, manageable workloads, and safe, respectful working environments for staff and students. 'I will work tirelessly with our executive and activists across all nations to secure the conditions and respect teachers deserve. This is a critical moment for education, and NASUWT will lead the way in fighting for our members' rights.' Wayne Broom, the NASUWT national president, said: 'This election engaged our members up and down the country, and the result reflects their confidence in his leadership. 'Matt will play a vital role in the next chapter of the union's work on behalf of teachers across the UK. The national executive and I look forward to working closely with him as we continue our mission to put teachers first. 'We also want to thank Neil Butler for standing in this election and for his ongoing service to NASUWT – his dedication exemplifies the strength of this union's democracy.' Wrack was named as the executive's preferred candidate for general secretary in March. Under NASUWT rules he would have automatically filled the position if no other candidate received enough nominations from local branches. Butler's initial attempt to collect nominations was ruled out on the grounds that, as an employee, he was not a member of the union. He launched legal proceedings and the NASUWT backed down shortly before a hearing at the high court. Wrack was named acting general secretary and nominations were reopened. Only 4.7% of the NASUWT's 178,306 eligible members took part in the ballot. Daniel Kebede, the general secretary of the National Education Union, was elected in 2023 on a 9% turnout.

Teachers expected to 'endure violence,' says union
Teachers expected to 'endure violence,' says union

South Wales Argus

time21-06-2025

  • Politics
  • South Wales Argus

Teachers expected to 'endure violence,' says union

The union believes that the Welsh Government's 'neglect' is causing a crisis in education. This weekend, members will convene in Cardiff to establish a campaign agenda for the year. Discussions will centre on safeguarding the profession through better recruitment and restoring pay, addressing learner behaviour, and the need for a sincere social partnership. The government has proposed a four per cent pay rise, falling short of the IWPRB's 4.8 per cent recommendation. There were 6,446 recorded violent incidents against school staff in 2023-24. Matt Wrack, acting general secretary, said: "If the Welsh government wants to build a world-class education system, it's time to start investing in teachers." Neil Butler, national official for Wales, said: "This government, it seems, is sleepwalking towards crisis. "While their workloads increase and their pay stagnates, teachers are expected to endure violence in classrooms and accommodate unrealistic qualifications reform."

UK teaching union to hold leadership election as challenger emerges
UK teaching union to hold leadership election as challenger emerges

The Guardian

time27-05-2025

  • General
  • The Guardian

UK teaching union to hold leadership election as challenger emerges

The NASUWT teaching union will hold its first contested leadership election for a generation after a challenger emerged to Matt Wrack, the former firefighters' union general secretary who was initially appointed to the role unopposed. Neil Butler, an NASUWT official who won a legal battle against the union's national executive to run, has passed the threshold required to be a candidate, triggering a members' vote against Wrack later this year. Wayne Broom, the NASUWT's president, said: 'Following the close of nominations, there is now a contested election and we will move to a ballot of members.' Broom said the election would begin on 19 June and close on 23 July. The result sets up an ideological charged contest between Wrack, seen as being on the left of the Labour party, and the traditionally more moderate union mainstream. Wrack was named as the national executive's preferred candidate for general secretary in March. Under the NASUWT's rules, Wrack would have automatically filled the position if no other candidate received enough nominations from local branches. Butler's initial attempt to gather nominations was ruled out by the national executive on the grounds that, as an employee, he was not a member of the union. But Butler started legal proceedings to challenge the executive's decision, with the NASUWT backing down shortly before a hearing at the high court that cost the union at least £70,000 in legal fees. Wrack was then named acting general secretary and nominations were reopened. Now Butler's supporters say he has gained well above the 25 branch nominations required to be a candidate, setting off the union's first ballot for general secretary since 1990. The general secretary selection process has been fraught with difficulty after Patrick Roach's decision last year to step down after only one term in office. Wrack impressed members of the national executive appointments committee when he was interviewed alongside Butler and other candidates, and the executive then announced Wrack as its preferred candidate. But the appointment proved controversial among many NASUWT members, in part because Wrack had been general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) for 20 years until losing his re-election bid in January. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Members who spoke to the Guardian said they were concerned about the fact Wrack had never been a teacher but would be leading a major union that restricts its membership to qualified teachers and lecturers, as well as his outspoken views on politics and the Israel-Gaza conflict. Speaking to the Guardian earlier this month, Wrack blamed a 'ludicrous' and 'coordinated' attempt by political enemies to undermine his position, and vowed to stand in the event of an election. Wrack, who went to a Catholic grammar school in Manchester and studied with the Open University before completing a part-time master's degree at the London School of Economics, said his lack of teaching experience was irrelevant. 'It strikes me that people seem to be able to be the secretary of state for education without any teaching experience,' Wrack said. Butler, the NASUWT's national officer for Wales, is a former teacher.

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