VANCOUVER - The passion CUPE civic workers have for the public services they provide and their desire for a fair and speedy resolution to this strike can be heard in the songs they write and sing on the picketline. Hear the latest song from “Karen & the Picketers” - a group formed on the line and made up of CUPE 15 member and City of Vancouver Inspections Division Clerk Karen Hynes and her fellow picketers. Hynes is the lead vocalist and their latest song it “Back on the Picketline”.
Lyrics below. Audio mp3s of songs found at bottom.
BACK ON THE PICKET LINE
I’M BACK ON THE PICKET LINE
HOW I MISS THAT JOB OF MINE
I’M BACK WHERE I BELONG
BACK ON THE PICKET LINE
DON’T KNOW WHY WE CAN’T BARGAIN
AND SETTLE UP THIS SCORE…
SINCE VANCOUVER DESERVES SERVICES
NEGOTIATIONS SHOULDN’T BE IGNORED
873 7-6-2-1
IS THE NUMBER FOR SULLIVAN
HELP US BACK TO OUR CITY JOBS
RESOLVE THIS SITUATION
SAM SULLIVAN NEEDS TO HEAR
HOW THIS STRIKE AFFECTS YOU ALL…
UNTIL SAM NEGOTIATES
THE PICKET LINE IS WHERE I HAVE TO STAY
I’M BACK ON THE PICKET LINE
HOW I MISS THAT JOB OF MINE
I’M BACK WHERE I BELONG
BACK ON THE PICKET LINE
BACK ON THE PICKET LINE
BACK ON THE PICKET LINE
BACK ON THE PICKET LINE
WRITTEN BY JUDY CORCORAN – GATHERING PLACE - CITY OF VANCOUVER & CUPE 15 MEMBER. PERFORMED BY KAREN HYNES – INSPECTIONS DIVISION CLERK - CITY OF VANCOUVER & CUPE 15 MEMBER - (In the tune of Back in Baby’s Arms by Patsy Cline)
THE PICKETERS
OH WELL WE’RE THE TYPE OF PEEPS, WHO LIKES TO GO TO WORK
WHERE THE PERMITS ARE, WELL YOU KNOW THAT WE’RE AROUND
WE SIT & WE WATCH THE OTHER MAYORS MAKE A DEAL
WE ARE HERE ON STRIKE, SAVING FOR OUR NEXT MEAL
THEY CALL US THE PICKETERS – YEAH – THE PICKETERS
WE ROAM AROUND, AROUND, AROUND, AROUND, AROUND
OH WELL THERE’S LAURIE TO MY LEFT AND TINA TO MY RIGHT
AND RISHENA IS THE ONE, THAT WILL PICKET HERE TONIGHT
AND WHEN THE PEOPLE ASK ME, WHEN THEIR GARBAGE IS GONNA GO
I HOLD UP MY SIGN AND TELL THEM “SAM IS THE ONE WHO KNOWS”!!
WE ARE THE PICKETERS – YEAH – THE PICKETERS
WE ROAM AROUND, AROUND, AROUND, AROUND, AROUND
WE’VE BEEN ON STRIKE FOR QUITE SOME TIME
BECAUSE THE CONTRACT IS A JOKE
I WEAR MY CUPE SIGN WITH PRIDE
BECAUSE I WON’T SIGN THAT SILLY CONTRACT
OH WELL WE’RE THE TYPE OF PEEPS, WHO LIKES TO GO TO WORK
WHERE THE BYLAWS ARE MAINTAINED, WELL YOU KNOW THAT WE’RE AROUND
WE SIT & WE WATCH THE OTHER MAYORS MAKE A DEAL
WE ARE HERE ON STRIKE, SAVING FOR OUR NEXT MEAL
THEY CALL US THE PICKETERS – YEAH – THE PICKETERS
WE ROAM AROUND, AROUND, AROUND, AROUND, AROUND
OH WELL WE’RE THE TYPE OF PEEPS, WHO LIKES TO GO TO WORK
WHERE THE STINKY GARBAGE IS, WELL YOU KNOW THAT WE’RE AROUND
WE SIT & WE WATCH THE OTHER MAYORS MAKE A DEAL
WE ARE HERE ON STRIKE, SAVING FOR OUR NEXT MEAL
THEY CALL US THE PICKETERS – YEAH – THE PICKETERS
WE ROAM AROUND, AROUND, AROUND, AROUND, AROUND
THEY CALL US THE PICKETERS – YEAH – THE PICKETERS
WE ROAM AROUND, AROUND, AROUND, AROUND, AROUND
CAUSE WE ARE PICKETERS – YEAH – THE PICKETERS
WE ROAM AROUND, AROUND AROUND, AROUND, AROUND
PERMFORMED & WRITTEN BY KAREN HYNES – INSPECTIONS DIVISION CLERK – CITY OF VANCOUVER & CUPE 15 MEMBER - (In the tune of The Wanderer)