Solidarity With Teachers
Lyrics By Jason Justice and Malini Cadambi - 1996
Tune John Brown's Body / Solidarity Forever)
For sixty months the workers had to toil without a raise
A year and a half the teachers had no contract throughout the days
With the crowded classrooms students struggled to make the A's
So the teachers joined as one (CHORUS):
Solidarity with Teachers!
Solidarity with Teachers!
Solidarity with Teachers!
For the strike has just begun
The schools were underfunded and the teachers got no supplies
The district hoarded money and fed us a bunch of lies
The union finally responded to the working people's cries
So the teachers joined as one
CHORUS
The district tried to divide us by our race and class and job
The media supported the district in the working class they robbed
But the teachers wouldn't buy it cause they feared not loss of jobs
So the teachers joined as one
CHORUS
Scabs were hired to take their jobs at twice the normal pay
They sucked up all the money at 180 dollars a day
The teachers and the students resolved to find another way
So the teachers joined as one
CHORUS
Teachers started strike schools in the churches and in homes
The power of scabs and district were crumbling at the bones
With the students, parents and community the teachers were never left alone
So the teachers joined as one
CHORUS
The union of the strikers forced the district to respond
Benefits and raises made the district not to fond
Victory went to the teachers because they put the pressure on
As the teachers joined as one
Solidarity with Teachers!
Solidarity with Teachers!
Solidarity with Teachers!
For the strike has now been won
The contract has been settled and the ink is barely dry
But what about the counselors who were striking side by side?
Forsaken by their union they can kiss their jobs good-bye
Next time give the Wobblies a try
Solidarity with all the workers!
Solidarity with all the workers!
Solidarity with all the workers!
Because the strike's for everyone.