Steelworker poet Bill Mahoney was declared USW
1005's poet in residence. Photo shows him at the
celebration of the 65th anniversary of the
strike of '46, July 23, 2011, where he recited
his poem The Spirit of '46, written for
the occasion. Bill has updated the poem on
the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the
Union's founding and recited it especially to
celebrate the important anniversary.
From the struggle
of '46 the spirit still lives on.
Although many of our veterans are dead and gone.
They fought for social justice and for workers'
rights.
Seventy-five years later we still fight the
fights.
They fought for decent wages, benefits and a
pension plan.
A working life with dignity for each woman and
man.
Showing the way for others right across the
land.
Now all across the country, workers are under
attack.
Without a strong Union, how would you fight
back?
Companies want your dignity; Companies want your
pride.
How would you fight the bastards with no one on
your side?
Would you go crawling on your hands and knees?
To the foreign masters to do with as they
please.
Companies want your loyalty and your sweat and
blood.
But when your working days are over they dump
you in the mud.
For all the gains we have made, we worked long
and hard.
If we now gave up an inch the company'd want a
yard.
We were told foreign ownership would be a
benefit.
They've been here for many a year and we ain't
seen it yet.
They want to rob the elderly; they want to rob
the young.
If they can't do it with a pen, they'll try to
use a gun.
1005 stood up to them that is something they
hate.
So on November 7th they locked up the gate.
We are proud Steelworkers from Local 1005,
They can't steal our dignity, they can't steal
our pride.
We are going to stand up and fight back all the
way.
When you mess with 1005 you have hell to pay.
We will have many stories to tell to our kids;
Of times spent on picket lines and when we held
the bridge.
When future generations talk about the fight,
They will say we had the courage to stand up for
what is right.
Our Local is legendary and our future's bright
Because we had the courage to stand up and
fight.
This article was published
in
Volume 51 Number 8 - August 1, 2021
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2021/Articles/M5100810.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
