
Issue No 74		20 October 2000

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News

Trade Union Choir Rocks Town Hall

Last Friday, Sydney Town Hall rang to the sound of 400 voices singing John Warner's inspiring song Bring Out the Banners.

Bring out the banners once again

You union women, union men

That all around may plainly see

The power of our unity.

The event was Choral Sea 2000, a concert bringing together Sydney's diverse choral communities as a massed choir with performers from many cultural backgrounds.

"The Sydney Trade Union Choir was delighted not only to be part of the Choral Sea, but also to be chosen to teach a song to the massed choirs. Being part of the Paralympics Arts festival was a bonus," said choir member Barry Cooper.

The Choral Sea takes place every second year. At each concert, selected choirs teach an item from their repertoire to be sung by the massed choir and this year, Sydney Trade Union Choir (STUC) chosen to teach a song.

The song, Bring out the Banners is a firm favourite of STUC and many of the other union choirs. In the tradition of songwriters like Woody Guthrie and Joe Hill, Sydney songwriter John Warner, set this rousing song of solidarity to a Methodist hymn-tune (See Amid the Winter Snow).

"The sound of all those voices raised in union song was quite overwhelming ", said Tom Bridges, STUC choir leader and conductor. "It makes all the effort of learning and practising worthwhile."

The other item performed by STUC members, this time, on their own, was, Peter Hicks' If it Weren't for the Union. Peter, an Australian songwriter, wrote the song to encourage workers to be active in their unions and its words resonate in today's environment.

It's our union, our union, defending our rights

But our union's as strong as our will is to fight

For the union is you and the union is me

So stand up and stand by our union.

"We felt very proud to represent the union movement at the Choral Sea" said MEU employee Kellie Stubbs. "It was especially good to walk down the centre of the Town Hall and up onto the stage carrying union banners and flags. I think we made quite an impression on the other choirs as well as the audience."

"The audience responded really favourably to our union songs and that gave STUC members a real buzz" she added.

STUC has been singing for unions and other progressive organisations for almost 10 years. It has performed on May Day, at National Folk Festivals, at union conferences, on picket lines and, most memorably, during the MUA dispute.

"We are very happy to perform for any union or group of workers," said Organising Centre trainer, Cathy Bloch. "And we are always looking for new choir members. You don't have to be able to read music. The only requirement is that you enjoy singing. We practise each Tuesday from 6pm to 8pm at the Transport Club in Regent St Broadway."

The choir can be contacted by ringing Cathy Bloch on 9264 9744.

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Issue 74 contents

Interview: Politics Italian Style
Italian journalist's union official Rodolfo Falvo talks to Peter Lewis about Italy's Rupert Murdoch and why Italian politics is so crazy.

Unions: A Partnership That Works
Students at Williamstown High in Victoria are benefiting from a creative partnership with TAFE and the Electrical Trades Union. Kevin Peoples reports.

International: Fiji Paymasters Fill Their Own Pockets
The Interim Administration imposed on the people of Fiji, as a result of the coup-makers, have voted themselves a hefty pay increase at the same time as they demand public sector workers take a twelve per cent pay cut.

Politics: USA Campaign 2000 - On the Road
Michael Gadiel reports on the thrills, spills, highs and lows of the US Presidential Election.

Women: Party Girl
'You can take the girl out of the Port, but you can't take the Port out of the girl' - Stephanie Key recounts her life as a feminist in a male bastion, the Transport Workers Union.

Satire: Telstra to issue $50,000 Reith Phonecard
CANBERRA, Monday: Telstra have announced Peter Reith-themed phonecard. The phonecard allows friends and family to make $50,000 worth of phone calls on it before you receive a bill. Plus, you only have to pay the bill in total if there is sufficient public outrage, otherwise the card costs just $950.

Review: Health, Wealth and Mutual Obligations
Mutual obligation for the poor only, increasing income inequality and a widening health gap. Welcome to the 21st century -or is it the 19th?

» Bitter Dispute Ends With Joyful Tidings

» Bodgy Telemarketers Face Union Wrath

» Another Bastard Bank On Rampage

» Employers Reject Individual Contracts

» Time To Come Clean

» Child Care Workers Tell Kim How Howard Nicked Their Money

» Reith Must Apologise Say Hotel Workers

» Telstra Too Smart On Casuals

» Primed To Win

» Payday Nightmare Follows AFFA Outsourcing

» Palestinian Community Seeks Union Support

» Trade Union Choir Rocks Town Hall

» WorkCover Goes For Gold In Paralympics