prekba – prekäres babylon

„Solidarity is Easy“ von Smokey Dymny

Smokey Dymny, Musiker, Gewerkschafter und Fahrradmechaniker in Quadra Island, Kanada, berichtet uns von einem Arbeitskampf in einem Kino in Toronto, bei dem uns manches bekannt vorkommt: Der Chef des Kinos Royal hat einen Vorführer rausgeworfen, doch dessen Gewerkschaftsfuktionäre der IATSE bleiben untätig. Nachdem die Kollegen hartnäckig durch Picket-Lines vor dem Kino auf das Problem aufmerksam machen, und ein autonomes Solidaritäts-Komitee gründen, schreitet schließlich doch noch die Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft ein. Smokey hat einen Song über den Konflikt in Toronto aufgenommen und uns geschrieben:

My local repertory cinema was sold, then being renovated.
When it looked like it was just going to be opened, there was suddenly a picket line of 6 men outside. I asked them what it was about. The new owners would not rehire the projectionist, and the union, IATSE, would not help.
So Andy Erne organized other projectionist friends to go out on a wildcat strike. I returned the next night with my guitar and taught them union songs.They especially liked „Are You a Scabby?“ because another projectionist was now working inside for non-union pay.
This was early in December and we picketed all the Friday and Saturday nights when the cinema would be most busy.
Before the New Year, the union was embarrassed enough that they began negotiations with the Royal Cinema.

By May Day the new worker (the old one retired) had a three year contract and we sang the song I wrote for the strike at the May Day show I was playing at our regular coffeehouse in Toronto.

Keep up with your struggle!
In the spirit of Joe Hill,
Smokey Dymny

Ein beteiligter Gewerkschafter fasst die Rolle seiner Gewerkschaft so zusammen:

Our Executive Board is pretty useless but we were able to embarrass them into taking action by forming a committee to deal with it- a committee that did not include the Executive members and quickly took on its own autonomy.

Smokeys Song zum Mitsingen:

Solidarity is Easy

Sometimes I’m disgusted when there’s no solidarity C – F –
In the business trade unions ‘cause they often fail to see C – G7 –
That the workers want to fight for a cause that’s real & strong C – F -
But the leaders sell out easy and make a deal that’s wrong. C – G7 C
chorus:
‘Cause solidarity is easy when you know a thing is right. F – C -
Solidarity’s when your friends join together for a fight. G7 – C C7
Solidarity’s no stranger to union members when F – C -
They help a fellow worker who needs a helping hand. G7 – – C

One winter I saw a picket line in front of a movie house
Defending a single worker who’d been laid off by a louse.
Who’d renovated the cinema to make it modern, then
He renovated the contact and fired the union man. But…

His friends they stood beside him all through that Christmas time
They marched & sang in rain and sleet to keep his spirits high.
When a Local supports a worker even tho’ he’s just one man,
Solidarity is on the march & growin’ throughout the land.

It was just those six workers who stuck with their union brother
The union wouldn’t go to bat for just one member.
But after seven solid pickets in front of the movie house
The union was embarrassed into dealing with the “louse”.

Singin’ “Are You a Scabby” made those cold nights some fun,
Singin’ on the picket line got the bosses on the run.
They forced them to the table ‘cause the wildcat stuck together
They learned again the meaning of “Solidarity Forever.”

© Smokey Dymny 01/2007 for IATSE local 173 wildcat picket in December 2006,
Royal Job Action Committee organized by Andreas (Andy) Erne.