McAvoy canes the hard left

MEMBERS of the biggest teachers' union yesterday re-elected their general secretary, Doug McAvoy, as he defeated a challenge from the hard left.

Mr McAvoy beat Christine Blower, a national executive member of the National Union of Teachers, by a majority of more than 17,000 votes on a 29.8 per cent turn-out.

Ms Blower had said that more industrial action was likely in classrooms if she won the contest.

Mr McAvoy said: "It is a great honour to be general secretary for a third successive term.

"Members have demonstrated their support for the union as a campaigning but not a militant organisation - an organisation which speaks for the whole profession and not for a political faction."

Earlier this year he warned members that Ms Blower had "a political and revolutionary platform that she and those who control her seek to impose on members".

Last week Mr McAvoy said in an advertisement that she was supported by extreme left-wing groups such as Militant, the Socialist Teachers' Alliance and the Socialist Workers' Party.

Ms Blower said that she was not controlled by any group and was not a member of a political party.

In 1994 Mr McAvoy defeated another left-wing challenger, Mary Hufford, by a majority of only 1,500 on a turn-out of 38.9 per cent.

This year he received 39,245 votes, compared with his opponent's 22,183.

Ms Blower declared that she was disappointed by the low turn-out. "I think I fought a positive campaign," she said. "I regret that Doug McAvoy's style of campaign was negative. That raised the turn-out for many. It may have cast doubt for many members on whether they wanted to vote at all."