10-03-2016, 08:20 PM
A bit more poking around a year on has revealed a little more. An article by Elisabeth Plum in the October 1984 issue of Worker History #23. Helyett had a song written about her (Not the first time I've found a recipient to be honoured in such a way). Only the second verse was recorded it seems.
"Det danske faglige kvindesekretariat er skabt,
fordi det fremskridtsmæssigt ikke gik så særlig rapt.
Af mænd der var for mange, når det kvindesagen gjaldt,
det har ihvertfald Simon her ved stævnet os fortalt,
og som plaster Fanny Jensen Lindberg gav en fin cigar,
og også fordi Lindberg er for os en lille far.
Men nu får kære Simon altså selv det store mas,
for hun er jo den, som ved, hvordan en sag den skal ta's"
("The Danish professional women's secretariat was created,
because the progress-moderates didn't go so specially rapid.
For men there were too many, when it was women's causes to apply,
It has at any rate Simon here at this rally us foretold,
and which plasters Fanny Jensen Lindberg by giving a fine cigar,
and also because Lindberg is for us a little father.
But now dear Simon also herself the great problem,
for she is yes her, who knows, how a cause should be taken.")
"This song is sung to the melody of "Flickorne Från Småland" (Actually Flickorna I Småland (Girls From Småland), a Swedish tune) at the Nordic study week in 1950. It was a big victory for the women, as the Danish Secretariat had finally become a reality. The song narrates, that the women had had difficulty in being heard in the trade union movement, also when it came to women's causes. But it narrates also, that they had to put their trust in the National Organisation men, that were favourably disposed towards women's causes. Little "Father" Lindberg was then National Organisation Secretary Kai Lindberg, who in the period 1955-66 was a minister in several governments.
The mentioned Simon, that now herself had the great problem with women's causes, was Helyett Simonsen, that was the chairman of the Trade Unions Women's Secretariat, until he death in 1966. Helyett Simonsen was a board member in the Social Democrats for 10 congresses and was later chairman for the Constituency Women's Committee and was also in Copenhagen's Citizen Representation. She was chairman for the Hatters And Furriers' Union and made a living sewing hats for the firm "Schermeister".
In the 1950's could a woman combine the difficulties of a political life with having children and Heylett Simonsen was also an unmarried woman. There were more of the Trade Unions Women's Secretariat women, that were, if they did not have adult children. On that point resembled the most of 1950's and 1960's female National Organisation members, as the married women with small children first became a significant part of the National Organisation's membership in the 1970's. There were many small children mothers on the labour market in the 50's and 60's, but they typically had seasonal work or part-time work and were not unionised. The National Organisation women with children were either single parents, or they were married to low-paid or jobless men and these National Organisation women had a bad time and profited from being Trade Union active.
Helyett Simonsen was the colourful and dynamic main force of the Women's Secretariat, but she was certainly not alone in being active and persistent in the Trade Union of women's work.
Here's that photograph again. This time with a little information. Taken on a weekend course in 1954 and from the personal collection of Ella Jensen.
Also the sheet music for the song.
"Det danske faglige kvindesekretariat er skabt,
fordi det fremskridtsmæssigt ikke gik så særlig rapt.
Af mænd der var for mange, når det kvindesagen gjaldt,
det har ihvertfald Simon her ved stævnet os fortalt,
og som plaster Fanny Jensen Lindberg gav en fin cigar,
og også fordi Lindberg er for os en lille far.
Men nu får kære Simon altså selv det store mas,
for hun er jo den, som ved, hvordan en sag den skal ta's"
("The Danish professional women's secretariat was created,
because the progress-moderates didn't go so specially rapid.
For men there were too many, when it was women's causes to apply,
It has at any rate Simon here at this rally us foretold,
and which plasters Fanny Jensen Lindberg by giving a fine cigar,
and also because Lindberg is for us a little father.
But now dear Simon also herself the great problem,
for she is yes her, who knows, how a cause should be taken.")
"This song is sung to the melody of "Flickorne Från Småland" (Actually Flickorna I Småland (Girls From Småland), a Swedish tune) at the Nordic study week in 1950. It was a big victory for the women, as the Danish Secretariat had finally become a reality. The song narrates, that the women had had difficulty in being heard in the trade union movement, also when it came to women's causes. But it narrates also, that they had to put their trust in the National Organisation men, that were favourably disposed towards women's causes. Little "Father" Lindberg was then National Organisation Secretary Kai Lindberg, who in the period 1955-66 was a minister in several governments.
The mentioned Simon, that now herself had the great problem with women's causes, was Helyett Simonsen, that was the chairman of the Trade Unions Women's Secretariat, until he death in 1966. Helyett Simonsen was a board member in the Social Democrats for 10 congresses and was later chairman for the Constituency Women's Committee and was also in Copenhagen's Citizen Representation. She was chairman for the Hatters And Furriers' Union and made a living sewing hats for the firm "Schermeister".
In the 1950's could a woman combine the difficulties of a political life with having children and Heylett Simonsen was also an unmarried woman. There were more of the Trade Unions Women's Secretariat women, that were, if they did not have adult children. On that point resembled the most of 1950's and 1960's female National Organisation members, as the married women with small children first became a significant part of the National Organisation's membership in the 1970's. There were many small children mothers on the labour market in the 50's and 60's, but they typically had seasonal work or part-time work and were not unionised. The National Organisation women with children were either single parents, or they were married to low-paid or jobless men and these National Organisation women had a bad time and profited from being Trade Union active.
Helyett Simonsen was the colourful and dynamic main force of the Women's Secretariat, but she was certainly not alone in being active and persistent in the Trade Union of women's work.
Here's that photograph again. This time with a little information. Taken on a weekend course in 1954 and from the personal collection of Ella Jensen.
Also the sheet music for the song.
"Signed with his own rubber stamp"
