General secretaries

The 59,000 members of the EIS Scottish teachers’ union will have a new general secretary for the first time in nearly two decades.

An election will be held to replace veteran leader Ronnie Smith, who will retire at the end of March after 17 years at the helm and 24 in senior positions in the union.

EIS president Alan Munro said Smith had “made an immense contribution to the EIS, national and international education”.

Meanwhile, broadcast union BECTU general secretary Gerry Morrissey will begin a second term of office next month after being re-elected unopposed.

He was backed by more than 50 branches in the 25,000-strong union.