relevent to the Global Women's Strike called for International Women's Day 8 March 2001.
For some background on International Women's Day, see the Fawcett Library FAQs RAther sad to see the supposed connection with a New York textile worker's strike debunked. For a textile worker's song see the deservedly famous Bread and Roses

THE MAINTENANCE ENGINEER
by Sandra Kerr

One Friday night it happened, some years after we were wed
When my old man came in from work, as usual I said:
"Your tea is on the table, clean clothes are on the rack
Your bath will soon be ready, I'll come up and scrub your back".
He kissed me very tenderly and said "I'll tell you flat -
The service I give my machine ain't half as good as that".

Chorus:
I said, "I'm not your little woman, your sweetheart or your dear
I'm a wage slave without wages, I'm a maintenance engineer".

Well, then we got to talking, I told him how I felt
How I keep him running just as smooth as some conveyor belt.
For after all, it's I'm the one provides the power supply
(He goes just like the clappers on my steak and kidney pie)
His fittings are all shining cos I keep 'em nice and clean
And he tells me his machine tool is the best I've ever seen...

The terms of my employment would make your hair turn grey
I have to be on call you see for twenty-four hours a day.
I quite enjoy the perks though when I'm working through the night
For we get satisfaction - at least he will and then I might.
If I keep up full production I shall have a kid or two
So some future boss can have a brand new labour force to screw...

The truth began to dawn then how I keep him fit and trim
So the boss can make a nice fat profit out of me and him.
And as a solid union man he got in quite a rage
To think that we're both working hard and getting one man's wage
I said "And what about the part-time packing-job I do?
That's three men that I work for love, my boss, your boss and YOU....

He looked a little sheepish and he said "As from today
The lads and me will see what we can do on equal pay.
Would you like a housewive's union, do you think you should be paid
As a cook and as a cleaner, as a nurse and as a maid?"
I said, "Don' jump the gun, love, if you did your share at home
Perhaps I'd have some time to fight some battles of my own".

I've often heard you tell me how you'll pull the bosses down
You'll never do it brother while you're bossing ME around.
Till women join the struggle, married, wingle, white or black
You're fighting with a blindfold and one arm behind your back.
The messsage has got over, he has realised at last
That power to the sisters must mean power to the class....^^