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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Teacher union leader Sinnott dies | Teacher union leader Sinnott dies |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Steve Sinnott, general secretary of one the biggest teaching unions in England and Wales, has died. | |
| The National Union of Teachers, led by Mr Sinnott since 2004, said his sudden death on Saturday was "a tragic loss". | |
| He was born in Liverpool and began teaching there. He was in his mid-50s, and leaves a wife, Mary, two children and two grandchildren. | |
| His death comes just days after the union voted for its first national strike for more than 20 years. | His death comes just days after the union voted for its first national strike for more than 20 years. |
| Ed Balls, secretary of state for children, schools and families, paid tribute to the union leader, expressing admiration for his "commitment to the teaching profession". | Ed Balls, secretary of state for children, schools and families, paid tribute to the union leader, expressing admiration for his "commitment to the teaching profession". |
| The minister said he was "deeply shocked and saddened" at the news of the union leader's "untimely death". | The minister said he was "deeply shocked and saddened" at the news of the union leader's "untimely death". |
| 'Sadly missed' | 'Sadly missed' |
| "Steve was a passionate advocate for teachers and a great believer in the power of education to transform the life chances of children and young people," said Mr Balls. | "Steve was a passionate advocate for teachers and a great believer in the power of education to transform the life chances of children and young people," said Mr Balls. |
| Teachers, parents and students have lost a doughty fighter Brendan BarberTUC general secretary | |
| "I know from our many meetings and phone calls that he believed strongly that every child matters and deserves the best. | "I know from our many meetings and phone calls that he believed strongly that every child matters and deserves the best. |
| "We shared a common goal to put the interests of all children and young people at the heart of our policies. | "We shared a common goal to put the interests of all children and young people at the heart of our policies. |
| "Of course, we did not always see eye to eye on every issue. But we never had an angry word." | "Of course, we did not always see eye to eye on every issue. But we never had an angry word." |
| The minister said Mr Sinnott "will be sadly missed". | The minister said Mr Sinnott "will be sadly missed". |
| 'Deeply committed' | |
| Brendan Barber, general secretary of the TUC, said: "Steve's death comes as a great shock. | |
| "He was a friend and a colleague who was deeply committed to the best of trade unionism and the British education system. | |
| "Teachers, parents and students have lost a doughty fighter." | |
| The leader of the rival union NASUWT, Chris Keates, said Mr Sinnott's passing was "a great tragedy for his family, for his union and for the trade union movement". | |
| Ms Keates added: "Whatever the differences between our two unions we have always been united in wanting to do the best for teachers." | |
| The union leader's death comes just days after he spoke about a teachers' strike planned for 24 April in a campaign to stop the government imposing real-terms pay "cuts" on teachers. | The union leader's death comes just days after he spoke about a teachers' strike planned for 24 April in a campaign to stop the government imposing real-terms pay "cuts" on teachers. |
| Mr Sinnott had been a member of the NUT since 1974. | Mr Sinnott had been a member of the NUT since 1974. |