BIG THREE PICKET CHANTS

 

CHANTS

(CALL and RESPONSE)

 

 

What do we want? No Tiers! When do we want it? Now!

What do we want? No Tiers! When do we want it? Now!

If we don’t get it? Shut it down! If we don’t get it? Shut it down!

If we — don’t — get — it? Shut — it — down!

[Variations: What do we want? COLA! / Contract! / etc.]

 


 

No contract? No peace!

No justice? No Jeeps!

No pay? No parts!

No deal? No wheels!

 


 

Everywhere we go / Everywhere we go

People want to know / People want to know

Who we are / Who we are

So we tell them / So we tell them  

We are the union / We are the union

The mighty mighty union / The mighty mighty union

Fighting for justice / Fighting for justice

And striking for a contract / And striking for a contract

 


 

When I say everyone you say tier one. Everyone! Tier one!
Everyone! Tier one!

 


 

I don’t know but I’ve been told / Big 3 walls are lined with gold!

Lies and tricks will not divide / workers standing side by side!

I don’t know but I’ve been told / Big 3 walls are lined with gold!

I don’t know but it’s been said / Pay your workers fair instead!

[Variations: Ford’s or GM’s or Stellantis’]

 


 

Hey, Stellantis, you can’t hide! / We can see your greedy side!

[Variations: Ford, GM, Mary Barra, Carlos Taveras, Jim Farley, etc.]

 


 

What’s disgusting? / Union busting!

What’s outrageous? / Big 3 wages!

[Variations: Ford’s or GM’s or Stellantis’]

 


 

Who’s got the power? We’ve got the power!

What kind of power? Union power!

 


 

When I say “union” you say “power”: union POWER! union POWER!

When I say “worker” you say “power”: worker POWER! worker POWER!

 


 

Show me what democracy looks like / This is what democracy looks like

[Variations: a union, a worker, power, solidarity]

 


 

Get up, get down, Detroit is a union town!

Get up, get down, Toledo is a union town!

Get up, get down, <town name> is a union town!

 


 

Our union, united / Will never be divided!

[Variations: the people, our movement]

 


 

Our union, united, will never be defeated!

 


 

Ain’t no power like the power of the union, cuz the power of the union don’t stop! (Say what?)

 


 

ONE: we are the union

TWO: a little bit louder

THREE: we want justice for our workers

ONE … <repeats louder>

[Variation: THREE: We’re out here fighting FOR a contract]

 


 

Hey people! What? 

I got a story! What?

Tell the whole damn world this is union territory!

 


 

One day longer, one day stronger!

 


 

Say it Loud, say it clear, no 2-tier!

 


 

<Ford or GM or Stellantis>! Step off it! Put workers over profit!

SONGS 

 

SOLIDARITY FOREVER

 

When the union’s inspiration through the workers’ blood shall run,

There can be no power greater anywhere beneath the sun;

Yet what force on earth is weaker than the feeble strength of one,

But the union makes us strong!

 

CHORUS

Solidarity Forever (3×)

For the union makes us strong!

 

It is we who plowed the prairies, built the cities where they trade

Dug the mines and built the workshops, endless miles of railroad laid

Now we stand outcast and starving midst the wonders we have made

But the union makes us strong

 

CHORUS

Solidarity Forever (3×)

For the union makes us strong!

They have taken untold millions that they never toiled to earn

But without our brain and muscle not a single wheel can turn

We can break their haughty power, gain our freedom when we learn

That the union makes us strong

 

CHORUS

Solidarity Forever (3×)

For the union makes us strong!

 

In our hands is placed a power greater than their hoarded gold

Greater than the might of armies, magnified a thousand fold

We can bring to birth a new world from the ashes of the old

For the union makes us strong

 

CHORUS

Solidarity Forever (3×)

For the union makes us strong!

 

To the tune of “Battle Hymn of the Republic

 

unite all workers for democracy