Steve Sinnott 1951-2008

NUT General Secretary, Steve Sinnott, died suddenly on 5 April, 2008. He was 56. His loss will be keenest felt by his beloved wife Mary, his son, daughter, grandchildren and extended family.

Steve was General Secretary from 2004, having served the Union previously as member of the National Executive, President and Deputy General Secretary.

The loss of Steve Sinnott is grievous for the teaching profession; catastrophic for all NUT members; and desperately sad for his colleagues and friends. For the international community the loss of a campaigner against injustice and tyranny is deeply tragic.

In his address to Annual Conference this year, Steve Sinnott opened by saying, “Steve Sinnott, General Secretary, National Union of Teachers”. He took enormous pride from those words. He thought it was ‘smashing!’ No-one loved the Union more.

Steve Sinnott was at the head of the Union during a most challenging period. The Union is in the midst of a major pay campaign. A one-day strike has been called on 24 April. His skillful leadership would have been invaluable in ensuring its success.
The Officers of the Union, acting as a Committee of Urgency, have decided that the strike should continue as planned.

Details of the funeral arrangements and other matters will be published on the Union's web-site.

Acting General Secretary, Christine Blower said: “Our hearts go out to Steve’s family at this sad time.

I know that he would have wanted the Union to go ahead with all its campaigns because he believed in all of them with his heart as well as his head.

At a later stage we will have the opportunity properly to remember Steve Sinnott, to honour his achievements and to celebrate his life.
For now, the best way to mark our respect would be to maximise the effect of the campaigns to which he was so committed.”