My dear Mrs Cow, being worried by
Sectional Unions,
and other cares, dropped me during the small hours of the night in a paddock, which had been fenced by
Australian Workers’ Association.
After being allowed to run with my ma for a few days, I was taken from her by a member of the
Farmers Union
and weaned by a member of the
Dairyman’s Union.
I met my first gentleman cow under the auspices of the
Drovers Union.
When calving, I was attended to by the
Veterinary Workers’ Union
And was afterwards milked by one of the Dairymen's’ Union.
Then I was fed with food milled by the
Millers’ Union,
The water used for drinking and standardising my milk was laid on by members of the
Plumber’s Union,
And my shed was built by the
Carpenters’ Union.
The utensils used for milking me were made by the
Tinsmiths’ Union
and the cart used for delivering my milk made by
Blacksmiths’ and Wheelwrights’ Union
My milk was delivered by one of the members of the
Dairymen's’ Union
Sold as a drink by the
Waitresses’ Union.
And also as a condensed product by the
Shop Assistants’ Union,
It was sterilised by the
Factory Employees Union,
And kept up to standard by the
Health Inspectors’ Union.
The products of my milk (butter and cheese) were made by
Factory Employees’ Union,
And delivered to customers by the
Drivers’ Union.
The whole was controlled by the
Federated Employees’ Union.
My butter and cheese were taken across to other lands by the
Transport Workers’ Union
Engine Drivers’ Union,
Officers Union and Railwaymen's’ Union.
The communications regarding me were sent by
Post and Telegraph Officials’ Union
and shipped across the seas by the
Masters’ Union
Marine Engineers’ Union,
Seamen's Firemen's’ Union
Lumpers, A.W.U., Carters, Customs, Civil Service and the Tally Clerks Unions
and they were controlled by the
Shipping Ring.
When leaving the dairy business to the stock market I was sold by the
Auctioneers’ Union
and my notice of sale was attended to by the
Typographical Union.
I was driven from one business to the next by members of the
Drovers’ Union,
And, while fattening, the
A.W.U.
looked after me. When leaving the fat stock business on my final journey I was killed by a member of the
Slaughtermen's’ Union.
My carcase was sold by the
Butchers’Union,
and cooked meats were sold by the
Small Goods Union.
My skin was dressed by the
Tanners’ Union,
and made into leather for boots by the
Boot Operators’ Union:
Also for harness and belts by the
Saddlers’ Union.
My horns, bones and blood were taken by the
Chemical Workers’ Union,
And the accounts of the lot were taken and kept by members of the
Clerks’ Union.

I, too, was milked and killed by


So here's to the

One Big Union,

For my posterity and the coming generation of workers.
Yours
Mrs. Cow

J. Candish, Direct Action, June 23rd 1917