Service Industry Unions

Margaret mairead at mindspring.com
Tue Apr 20 15:55:37 PDT 1999


Doug admitted


>Member National Writers Union, UAW Local 1981,

To which i must respond with...

Solidarity Forever Written by Ralph Chaplin Jan. 1915

(Tune: "John Brown's Body")

When the Union's inspiration through the workers' blood shall run, There can be no power greater any-where beneath the sun; But what force on earth is weaker than the feeble strength of one? But the Union makes us strong!

Chorus: Sol-i-dar-i-ty for-e-ver, Sol-i-dar-i-ty for-e-ver Sol-i-dar-i-ty for-e-ver, For the Union makes us strong.

Is there aught we hold in common with the greedy parasite, Who would lash us into serfdom and would crush us with his might? Is there anything left to us but to organize and fight? For the Union makes us strong. (CHORUS)

It is we who plowed the praries; built the cities where they trade; Dug the mines and built the workshops, endless miles of railroad laid; Now we stand outcast and starving midst the wonders we have made; But the Union makes us strong. (CHORUS)

All the world that's owned by idle drones is ours and ours alone. We have laid the wide foundations; built it skyward stone by stone. It is ours, not to slave in, but to master and to own. While the Union makes us strong. (CHORUS)

They have taken untold millions that they never toiled to earn, But without our brain and muscle not a single wheel can turn. We can break their haughty power; gain our freedom when we learn That the Union makes us strong. (CHORUS)

In our hands is placed a power greater than their hoarded gold; Greater than the might of armies, magnified a thousand-fold. We can bring to birth a new world from the ashes of the old For the Union makes us strong. (Chorus)

-------------------------------- Little Red Songbook of the IWW (36th Edition). 103 labor songs from around the world, with music. Includes classics and new songs by Billy Bragg, Anne Feeney, Charlie King, Utah Phillips, etc. US$10 plus $1 shipping from

IWW Literature Dept. 103 West Michigan Avenue Ypsilanti, MI 48197 USA

--------------------------------

Why aren't we working together?

le meas, Margaret



More information about the lbo-talk mailing list