Most articulate voice in Scotland
Simon Pirani, editor of The Miner (the NUM journal) 1990-95, now Senior Research Fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, co-authored a book with John in 1989.
Their account of the local mining history, particularly the strike, was outlined in“Polmaise: The Fight for a Pit”, which was republished in 2015.
Simon told the Observer:“John McCormack will be remembered in Fallin as many things – a loving family man, MC at the miners’ welfare, football fan and player, as well as Polmaise miners’union delegate in the 1980s.
“But he will also be remembered far beyond Fallin, for his part in the fight against pit closures.
“John was elected pit delegate in 1979, the year Margaret Thatcher became prime minister.
“Her government soon began its onslaught against mining communities. Across Scotland, the coal board closed and flooded pits, tore up workplace agreements, locked-out miners – including at Polmaise, for five weeks in 1983 – and victimised union representatives.
“The Polmaise men were at the forefront of the resistance. John, as their representative, became the most articulate voice in Scotland urging a militant strategy to match the government’s fanaticism. He recognised that this was no normal industrial dispute.”
He added:“John not only fought every petty injustice at workplace level, he also voiced his community’s interests on the national stage, and didn’t care which complacent politicians he offended in doing so. He didn’t toe any party line.
“When I started covering labour issues as a journalist in 1981, I was soon pointed in John’s direction by miners‘union officials from all over Scotland. He welcomed me to Fallin, and to his home, with unfailing courtesy and his
Eric Clarke, Mick McGahey, Arthur Scargill and John McCormack fantastic sense of humour for years after that – through the great strike of 1984-5 and the pain that followed. I learned a great deal from him.”
Fallin Miners’Welfare posted on social media last week:“FMW is sad to hear the news of the passing of lifelong member and past chairman John McCormack. We would also like to express our deepest sympathies to the family of John and are sorry the club cannot give him the send-off he truly deserves.
“John was a man much respected through all aspects of his life including during the difficult miners’strike where he helped many, many people with various problems. Our club and village will be a sadder place without him in it. RIP John.”
Local councillor Alasdair Macpherson told the Observer: “John McCormack was an extremely intelligent and naturally warm and approachable man.
“He made an enormous contribution to the mining industry locally and nationally and was highly respected throughout the country. My thoughts are with his family at this sad time.”