FORMER firefighters’ union leader Matt Wrack has been elected general secretary of teaching union NASUWT.

Mr Wrack, who was general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) for 20 years from 2005, will succeed NASUWT’s Dr Patrick Roach.

NASUWT president Wayne Broom said: “We are pleased to welcome Matt Wrack to the NASUWT where he will play a vital role in the next chapter of the union’s work on behalf of teachers across the country.

“We wish Matt every success in his new role.”

Mr Wrack said: “I am immensely honoured to be elected as general secretary of NASUWT and I thank the national executive for recommending me to members.

“I pay tribute to Patrick Roach for his leadership of the union, acting as a powerful voice for teachers and for his wider work in the trade union movement, notably his leading role in the anti-racist work of the TUC.

“Teachers have suffered as a result of 14 years of austerity; so has education as a whole.

“The Westminster government needs to urgently start investing in education and that includes addressing the fact that teachers’ salaries and living standards have fallen behind.”