11 June 2004
Britain's two largest teaching unions are this week embarking on the search for new general secretaries following the death of one and the impending retirement of the other.
Ballot papers were sent out on June 7 to 240,000 members of the National Union of Teachers to decide the race to succeed Doug McAvoy.
There are four candidates in what is likely to be a bitter contest to replace the outgoing leader, who is stepping down after 15 years at the helm.
McAvoy's deputy, Steve Sinnott, is believed to be the frontrunner, although there has long been tension between the two men.
John Bangs, the NUT's head of education and McAvoy's apparent favourite, is considered to be Sinnott's principal rival. The other candidates are Left-wingers Ian Murch and Martin Powell-Davies. The postal ballot closes on June 28 and an NUT spokeswoman said the result would be declared the next day.
'The winner will take over straightaway,' she added. The executive of the National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers, meanwhile, was due to meet on June 11 following the death in office of Eamonn O'Kane three weeks ago.
A spokeswoman said: 'This is the first time the executive has met to consider the appointment of a new general secretary.'
Assistant general secretary Chris Keates will be acting leader until elections can be held.
The process is expected to take around three months.
PFjun2004
