She was the Northern Ireland Regional Secretary of UNISON and NUPE during some very difficult times. But she was much more than that. She loved and respected the members she organised, represented and negotiated for - and in return they loved and respected her. Trade unions are often described as dry, bureaucratic organisations by those who known nothing about them. We know different. We know about comradeship, solidarity, collective struggle and friendship. We know about people like Inez.
The Inez McCormack Fund was launched to build on her legacy and to move forward the commitments made in the Good Friday Agreement. Also, we heard from UNISON's Patricia McKeown and movingly from Inez's family.
Those of us privileged to be present knew that Inez stood for generosity and loyalty. She believed in the best of humanity. Friendship was her forte, laughter her default position. Not a bad way to be remembered in a world of greed and sleaze.
To find out more about Participation and the Practice of Rights go to http://www.pprproject.org/ - a vital organisation which will continue the work of an indomitable women and class fighter who was 'loathed in high places and loved in low places'
Frank Hont
