IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER - UNISON...IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER. 1 In the bleak midwinter council workers’ pay Wont buy Christmas presents There really is no way. In the bleak midwinter

NJC carol sheet

Strike a chord for local government pay

IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER

1 In the bleak midwintercouncil workers’ payWont buy Christmas presentsThere really is no way.In the bleak midwinterWe’re doing more for lessWe want a pound an hourTo end this mess.

2 The coalition’s pay freezeHas hit us treble hardAnd promises from OsborneWeren’t worth a pound of lard.The cuts have hit conditionsLike overtime and fuelWe’ve lost one fifth of earnings Osborne is cruel

3 The Living Wage eludes usA half-million earn lessMost of us are womenOur kids suffer we ‘fessSchool clothes are out the windowNo laptops or meals outWe want you to support usSo please - just shout!

4 How can you help usWin a deal on pay?If we don’t get it this yearWe’ll go all the way.Please tell all your neighbours,MP’s and councillors tooTo settle on our pay claimAnd get us through.

unison.org.uk/at-work/local-government

NJC carol sheet



DING DONG MERRILY ON HIGH

1 Ding dong merrily on highOur earnings they are fallingDing dong we are asking whyAnd for your help we’re callingChorusFalling , our wages they are falling

2 When the coalition cameThe cuts and pay freeze beckonedThey have played a dirty gameA job lost every secondChorusFalling, our wages they are falling

3 And so our union UNISON,Is calling for a pay riseA pound an hour can’t be wrongIt isn’t such a big prizeChorusFalling, our wages they are falling

4 So let us have the Living WageAnd rises for all othersIf not strike action we’ll stageAs sisters and as brothersChorusFalling, our wages they are falling

NJC carol sheet



OH LITTLE TOWN OF (BIRMINGHAM)(sung to the tune of Oh little town of Bethlehem)

1 Oh little town of (Birmingham)How cut we see thee lie George Osborne’s got it in for youThere is no answer whyThe rich are getting richerBut workers such as weAre doing more but getting poorWe say ‘this cannot be’.

2 We work hard for your councilOur overtime’s unpaidAllowances for weekend workWill now be all delayedThe Living Wage denied usHalf a million earning lessWe calling for an extra quidAs poverty’s redress

3 Our union is UNISONTogether we are strongWe will take direct actionWe’ve threatened all alongOur kids they need our earningsThe economy does tooSo help our fight to put this rightWe’re calling out to you.

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WHILE COUNCIL WORKERS FELT THE PINCH(sung to the tune of While shepherds watched their flocks)

1 While council workers felt the pinchFrom Cameron and CleggTheir union called UNISONSaid ‘we wont let you beg’.We’ll put in for a pay increaseA pound for everyoneWe’ve had enough of falling payThis poverty’s not fun.

2 We’ve kept the council going wellThrough coalition cutsOur pay’s declined 18 per centSo no more if’s or buts.We’re working unpaid overtimeTo get the job well doneYour local services go onBut poverty’s no fun.

3 We’ve had to call on payday loansThe food bank and our friendsTo keep our families fed and clothedOsborne must make amends.A pay rise of one pound an hourWould pay the Living WageAnd help restore our lost earningsAnd stem our growing rage.

4 Our mates who staff the NHS, Police and teachers tooAre paid a whole lot more than usFor work just like we do.This inequality must endWe all want equal paySo stand up and support us nowPlease join our fight today!

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Here in this poor battered city(sung to the tune of Here in Royal David’s City)

1 Here in this poor battered cityHit by Coalition cutsUNISON calls for a pay riseCouncil workers’ pay is nutsWe wont take it any longerJoin our fight and make us stronger

2 Four years running earnings fallingOvertime and petrol costs not paidPart-time workers want to work more hoursFriends and families’ bank accounts we raidOur ambition wont be fetteredFor our treatment can be bettered

3 Politicians can afford our pay riseOur economy would growMore in tax and National InsuranceTo the Treasury would flowPaying for our Living Wages That we’ve waited for for ages

4 If we don’t see action from employersWe will have to go on all out strikeStop maintaining all the council functionsClosing services that we all likeThis time round there’ll be no stoppingWe need more to do the shopping.

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SILENT NIGHT

1 Silent night, pay is not rightThat’s why we’re here, here in this fightOne pound an hour is all we ask forThat’s just enough as we see prices soarAfter four years of pay cutsAfter four years of pay cuts

2 Osborne and Clegg, Cable and CamLive in wealth, - and so does SamWhile we are forced to take out pay day loansDeny our children and live with their groansThis Coalition is cru-elThis Coalition is cruel

3 Services cut, many jobs goneBut we are here, we carry onKeeping your services going the sameWorking unpaid though it’s not us to blameAs workers we pay for the crashAs workers we pay for the crash

4 We’ve had enough, our pay has crashedOvertime gone, fuel payments trashedWe’ve kept on in silence but now we’ll speak outWe’d like you to join us and give us a shoutFair pay for council workersFair pay for council workers

NJC carol sheet



WHILE WOMEN WORKERS WORK PART-TIME(sung to the tune of While shepherds watched their flocks)

1 While women workers work part-timeAnd overtime’s unpaid The coalition’s making cutsAnd aspirations fade.

2 Most council workers are womenOur pay is very poorAnd now with this austerityFor less we’re doing more.

3 Our kids demand their Christmas rightsWe’re having to say ‘no’Our pay has dropped by one whole fifthAnd overdrafts they grow.

4 The men who say we aren’t worth moreGet paid a hefty whackFor policies which hurt us allWe’re going to get them back!

5 While women keep your servicesFrom going down the panThey think that pay’s a luxuryHow wonderful is man!!!

6 We fight for just one quid an hourWe’d like you to join inWe’ll all defeat austerity -Put Osborne in the bin.

Documents

IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER - UNISON...IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER. 1 In the bleak midwinter council workers’ pay Wont buy Christmas presents There really is no way. In the bleak midwinter