For the time served man
The rewards were many,
Clerks were paid a pittance
For they were ten a penny.
We used to have our pride in
Those days long gone,
The workers used a time clock
Staff just had a book to sign on.
All time served tradesmen
Working on the shop floor
All on agreed Union rates
And in some cases more.
Responsible for the admin of
All the manufacturing stages
Office workers were paid
Just a fraction of their wages.
The factory ate at midday
The staff half an hour after
All in the same canteen but
What caused cynical laughter
The food was just the same,
For the cook was very able,
But the staff paid a bit extra for
Having a cloth on their table.
The tradesman had his union
To fight for his cause
The cleric on his own with few
Job protection laws
They may have been exploited
But they didn't seem to care
As long as they weren't expected
To eat from tables that were bare.
