We live in a world of celebrity worship. A world where some people are famous for being famous and the good work and unselfish effort of so many citizens is ignored. But now and again we are able to celebrate the life of someone who made a contribution, one of ours who cared and walked that extra mile. Inez McCormack was such a woman. Trade unionist , human rights activist, first female president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and former UNISON Regional Secretary in Northern Ireland. Inez died earlier this year and some of us who knew her were privileged to be in Belfast on a cold Saturday afternoon where the current President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins was joined by former President Mary Robinson to tell the story of a life well lived. The Londonderry Sentinel reports that the story of our comrade Inez McCormack continues to told around the world. It was said of her that she was loathed in high places and loved in low places - most trade unionists would happily settle for that.
http://www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk/news/local-news/a-universal-story-of-women-is-surely-found-in-the-life-of-inez-mccormack-1-5731429
Frank Hont
Former Regional Secretary UNISON North West
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has published a video of a powerful tribute to the achievements, life, times and unfinished business of Inez McCormack by UNISON's Northern Ireland Regional Secretary, Patricia McKeown:
http://vimeo.com/62283755
A report by Frank Hont on this weekend's celebration of the life and work of Inez McCormack 1943 -2013. To Belfast in Saturday's heavy snow and strong winds. A journey tinged with sadness at the loss of a friend and comrade but a journey made to honour her memory. Inez McCormack died earlier this year and our movement lost someone who will be long remembered with affection and respect by all those who came into contact with her:
In the union we have always known her true worth. It lies not solely in her remarkable journey, engaging with power systems dominated by disrespect for women in general and the working class in particular. It lies especially in her unselfish and unshakeable belief that ordinary people, given a chance, can change the world' writes Patricia McKeown of UNISON Northern Ireland in a moving tribute to her predecessor as Regional Secretary, Inez McCormack, who died on 21 January 2013: h
http://www.unison.org.uk/northernireland/pages_view.asp?did=1517
