We are fighting for the fair pay, decent conditions, and fair pensions we deserve.
If you’ve ever met me on a picket line, you know that I feel very strongly about the power of song to bring people together. We have a grand tradition of singing at our picket rallies at Uni of Leeds UCU and between us we have written “strike covers” of many songs – a small selection of which may be found in our songbook [here]. We’ve made a few music videos together too (e.g. [here], [here], and [here]. Last year members came together and we made [this Kylie cover].
🎶 PRESENTING!… The ABBAsolutely wonderful sounds of University of York UCU and University of Leeds UCU singing Stronger Together In UCU last week… just (Waterloo)se yourself in the sound of solidarity (video below)!
You may have come across [this] previous ABBA cover Ryan Burns (Brighton UCU) wrote last year, encouraging members to Post Your (AB)BAllot (Ryan has also covered the Shirelles and Ian Dury and the Blockheads). Fellow Leeds UCU activist Sarah Hudspith got in touch to remind us she had written another cover whose time has now come… and so Sarah, Ryan, and I have teamed up with Tim Packer (Durham UCU) to bring an even bigger #UCUband together… and we need you to get involved!
We’re looking for picket lines, rallies, instrumental and vocal solos, groups, dancers: any audio and/or visuals we can put together to spread the singing solidarity further. Check out the videos below, and join in!
To join the UCU band you just need the info in this folder: https://tinyurl.com/UCUband
– Guide backing track
– Lyrics and chords
– Instructions for sending audio & video
And see University of Leeds UCU pickets play and sing [here]!
Singing and dancing together (it doesn’t have to be Albert Hall-worthy!) is a brilliant way to lift spirits together in our fight for a fair deal, and it also helps bring attention to our cause. Give it a try at a picket line near you 🙂
Vicky Blake 