Union

First published in National Indigenous Times. 2005
http://www.nit.com.au/secure/story.aspx?storyid=5483

also in The Woodstock Journal CMFEU Tasmania, No. 34 September

We’ll build a mighty union
throughout the Commonwealth
to stand up for the workers
against those who rob by stealth.

Black and white will gather
men and women too
old and young together
will build this world anew.

Fighting for the rights we’ve won
that they would take away;
fighting for each other
our union’s here to stay.

In our mighty union
there’s room for every one
we want bread and roses
and our place in the sun.

The bosses class wants workers
bowing to their will,
we’ll tell them they can stick it
that we are fighting still.

They’ll not lash us to their yoke
we’ll stand solid like a tree,
they’ll never break our struggle
united in our dignity.

We’ll safeguard the workers
confined to the scrap heap:
they’ll not conscript the unemployed
to get workers on the cheap.

Rich and poor together
town and country too,
single parents and their kids
will build this world anew.

Yes, we’ll build a mighty union
throughout this wide brown land,
each of us together
will make them understand.

Workers are not fodder,
Australians are not fools,
we’re flesh and blood with feelings
not their lifeless tools.