Alistair,

May I suggest that you go to the bookstore or library and check out The Collected Reprints From Sing Out!. There are two volumes. The first one covers 1959-1964 and the second covers 1964-1973. I am looking at the index in my copies and see headings for "English Folksongs" and "labor". I would bet that a page by page perusal would turn up several songs that would be useful complete with short narratives on the background of the songs. I know that "Four Pence a Day" and "The Work of the Weavers" are in there.

Mick