Digital Tradition Mirror

Speed Up, Shiftwork and Overtime

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

Speed Up, Shiftwork and Overtime
( Mark Gregory )

I've read in the newspapers and seen it on TV
They tell us that the bosses and the workers should agree
It make the bosses angry, it makes the Tories rage
To think some men refuse to work if they dont get a decent wage

cho: It's speed up shiftwork and overtime for you
     If you want to make a living that's what they'll make you do
     It really makes me wonder when I hear some people speak
     Of how we fought for the eight hour day or forty hours a week

In days gone by when prices fell and the markets hit a glut
The workers in this country would have their wages cut
But now there is a different trick that's used throughout the nation
These days they put the prices up, cut wages by inflation
So ...

And now they try to tell us that this country's going broke
It must be all those profits that's causing them to choke
The answer's very simple the problem can be solved
We'll sack the bloody bosses and have workers in control
Or else ...

Notes: I wrote this song when I worked in a brewery in London in 1971. At
the time I was an Engine Driver for a couple of Hall's Ammonia
Compressors in the chilling plant. Much of the day or night
entailed keeping an ear out for warning sounds, a nose ready for
ammonia leaks and an eye on various gauges. Time for reading and
writing (and occasionally sampling the merchandise).
     There was a Tory government in power with a brand new Industrial
Relations Bill written by a minister who also happened to be the
head of Securicor the private security firm. This anti union law
had particularly draconian anti-strike clauses. "Kill the Bill" was
the slogan of the day (a double entendre in London at least).
     Between my shifts cooling Watney's Red Barrel, I worked in the
documentary film group, Cinema Action, which was making a film
called "Fig
the introduction of that film!
     It goes to the tune of Lachlan Tigers. MG (First part of the
Bigler) RG
MG
oct97

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!