I was in Vancouver, BC when the Canadian Supreme Court declared that collective bargaining was a basic human right, embodied in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This was the joyous outcome of a long legal battle which the province attempted to eliminate collective bargaining rights for public employees. I wrote this song for the Canadian Hospital Workers' Union Convention, and recorded it with ATS - a wonderful Pittsburgh punk band. There are so many numbers in this song I almost called the song "Victory by the Numbers." I hope it becomes a zipper song to adapt for any great victory - and I'm sure there will be many more.
lyrics
In the year 2002, with 20 minutes warning, the Liberals introduced bill 29
Only 3 days later this hateful bill was passed
It offered BC workers bitter wine
The layoffs and the closings took their toll on patient care
VWith our collective bargaining rights denied by act of law
Our union's very future was in doubt -but
We fought back, we fought back, we fought back and we won
We fought back, we fought back, we fought back and we won
A five year legal battle with the outcome most uncertain
With layoffs mounting what else could we do?
We educated, agitated with our friends and allies
We stood together and we saw it through
The Supreme Court was the last stop in this battle for survival
Decided by 3 women and 4 men
It was on the 8th of June we got their 6-1 decision
And things will never be the same again
We fought back, we fought back, we fought back and we won
We fought back, we fought back, we fought back and we won
What good is a union if it has no right to bargain?
We clearly had no option but to fight
The courts have finally recognized what we knew all along
Collective hargaining's a basic human right
It's time for celebration now but let us not forget
There are many battles yet that lie before us
And though we all overjoyed that Gordon Campell's unemployed
By now they know that they cannot ignore us!
Because We fought back, we fought back, we fought back and we won
We fought back, we fought back, we fought back and we won
And we'll fight back, we'll fight back, we'll fight back 'til we win!
Anne Feeney is a front-line singer and agitator well-versed in the traditions of Pete Seeger, Phil Ochs and Tom
Lehrer.
She's taken her musical message all over the US and Canada as well as Sweden and Denmark.
Based in Pittsburgh, PA, For almost 50 years, Anne has gone to wherever the fires of resistance burn brightly, comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable....more
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