The leader of the NASUWT teaching union has been allowed to stay in her post after a tribunal rejected a call for an enforcement order to remove her “forthwith”.

At a Certification Office tribunal hearing earlier this month, the union conceded that there had been a breach of trade union law because Chris Keates had remained in post as general secretary beyond five years without an election.

However, the union argued that Ms Keates was now only “acting general secretary” until a  replacement could be found.

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The union’s former Northern Ireland president, Susan Parlour, who brought the complaint, had told the tribunal that Ms Keates had merely “rebranded herself”.

NASUWT election plan

And representing Ms Parlour,  former regional organiser at the union Richard Harris called for the enforcement order to be made “forthwith”, stating that the union had been informed almost a year before the end of Ms Keates’ term in office of the need to hold an election but had failed to do so.

But Certfication Officer Sarah Bedwell  said in her decision statement that the union had made “an honest and genuine mistake” in allowing Ms Keates to overstay in office.

She said: “The only remaining pertinent question is whether the union are taking steps to hold an election to appoint a new general secretary. The union have already begun that process and have provided me with a timetable.”

The union has already advertised for a new general secretary on a salary of £98,000 per year.