A fond farewell to a formidable double

It was Mary’s “steely determination” that first struck Kevin. He was particularly impressed that she managed to get ATL to win a national ballot at a time when its members hadn’t been on strike for decades.

“I don’t know how many sleepless nights she must have had before making that decision and going for it,” says Kevin.

2011 Strike Paved The Way For Unity

What were their first impressions of each other? Mary’s immediate response is:

“I thought he was very tall,” and Kevin, who is 6ft 7in, chuckles warmly. Mary adds that Kevin was extremely approachable and sincere. “He doesn’t say anything he doesn’t think or feel, so you know where you are with him.”

That year, NUT and ATL members voted Yes to two days of strike action. On 30 November, they joined other public sector workers on one of the biggest strikes in decades. With 67.5 per cent of schools closed as a result of the action, the Government was forced back to the negotiating table.

On the back of this success, both unions began to think seriously about amalgamating. The NUT already had a commitment to