The Collection Voice of AFGE 美国公职人员联合会
- 详细资料
- 创建于 2003年11月08日
- 最后更新于 2024年5月25日
- 发布于 2011年6月11日
- 作者：Mike Lee
- 点击数：351
课文朗读
课文讲解
Who inspects food and prevents the entry of illicit drugs? In the U.S., it is government workers who provide these vital services. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest federal employee union in the world, ensures that these government employees are treated fairly. In addition to negotiating bread-and –butter issues at the bargaining table, the union also lobbies for legislation to improve the well-being of its 600,000 members.
谁负责检查食品及防止非法药物进入国内？在美国，是一群公务员提供这些关键性的服务。美国公职人员联合会(AFGE)，是全世界最大的联邦公务人员工会组织，旨在确保所有公务员都能得到合理的工作待遇。除了在谈判桌上交涉与生计有关的议题外，工会还进行立法游说以改善它旗下60万会员的福利。
AFGE offers services ranging from legal representation to a comprehensive health plan to discount movie tickets. One of its core programs is the Health and Safety Program. To promote safer workplaces, AFGE holds seminars at increasing awareness of safety issues among its members.
AFGE提供的服务从法律代理、完整的健康规划、到电影票折扣一应俱全。其中有一项重要的核心服务就是健康安全计划。为促进工作场所安全，AFGE举办座谈会并发布文宣，以期增进所属会员的安全意识。
Most of all, AFGE allows workers’ concerns to be heard. The union helps negotiate health and safety protection into collective bargaining agreements. Also, because jobs and equipment are usually designed to maximize production with little regard for worker comfort, AFGE spent ten years developing a national ergonomics standard. Although this standard was Clinton Administration, it was overturned in the initial months of the Bush Administration. Despite this setback, AFGE continues to work hard to protect the rights of federal employees.
尤其是AFGE能让会员所关心的议题浮出台面。工会帮忙交涉把健康安全的防护议题包裹在劳资谈判的协议中。也因为通常工作和使用的器具设备都是为了获得最大生产量而设计的，所以很少考虑工作人员是否舒适，AFGE花了十年功夫制定出一套人体工学的国家标准。虽然这项标准在克林顿政府时期的最后几天已经立了法，但是在布什政府初期的几个月又被推翻了。即使遇到此类的挫折，AFGE仍然努力不懈地维护各会员的权益。
Vocabulary
单词发音
illicit [ɪˋlɪsɪt] adj. 非法的，不法的
federal [ˋfɛdərəl] adj.（常大写）美国联邦政府的，国家的
union [ˋjunjən] n. 工会；联合会，协会
bread-and–butter [ˋbrɛdnˋbʌtɚ] adj. 为生计的; 实际的
bargaining [`bɑrgɪnɪŋ] n. 讨价还价; 谈（交易）条件
lobby [ˋlɑbɪ] v. 对（议员等）进行游说（或疏通）
legislation [͵lɛdʒɪsˋleʃən] n. 制定法律，立法
representation [͵rɛprɪzɛnˋteʃən] n. 代表，代理
comprehensive [͵kɑmprɪˋhɛnsɪv] adj. 广泛的；无所不包的；综合的
seminar [ˋsɛmə͵nɑr] n.【主美】专家讨论会
collective [kəˋlɛktɪv] adj. 集体的；共同的
regard [rɪˋgɑrd] n. 注重，注意；考虑；关心
ergonomics [͵ɝgəˋnɑmɪks] n. 人体工程学
setback [ˋsɛt͵bæk] n. 挫折；失败
Sentence of the Day
It looks out for the little guy.
它照顾弱势者。
look out 留意; 照料
课文讲解
April runs into Clark outside a bank: 艾普儿在银行外面碰到了克拉克：
A: Hey, why so glum, chum?
嗨，好朋友，干嘛闷闷不乐的？
C: I just got turned down for a loan. I guess Susan and I won’t be moving to the suburbs after all.
我的贷款被拒绝了。我想苏珊和我大概没办法搬到郊区去住了。
A: Did you ask our union about its real estate benefits? It has a very comprehensive benefits package for first time homeowners.
有关购屋优惠办法你问过我们工会了吗？工会对首次购屋者提供完整的优惠方案。
C: What? I knew AFGE had health and insurance benefits, but how can it help with buying a new house?
什么？我知道AFGE有健康和保险福利，但它竟然还有购屋优惠吗？
A: The union gave me an excellent mortgage even though my credit was not perfect. In fact, both my interest rate and down payment were lower than what the bank offered.
虽然我在银行的信用并不十分良好，工会还是给我满优惠的抵押贷款。事实上，我的利率和头期款都比向银行贷款还低。
C: Really? And I suppose there’s a mortgage counselor just like the union health counselor.
真的吗？是不是像健康咨商顾问一样，工会那儿也有个抵押贷款顾问？
A: Indeed, there is; and he’s very helpful too. So helpful, in fact, that he can even provide you with a homeowners’ insurance package.
的确有；而且他很热心帮忙。真的很帮忙，事实上他还能帮你弄全套的房屋保险。
C: Let me guess. Next you’re going to tell me that the counselor can help me pack up my stuff and move.
我猜猜看。下一步妳会告诉我那位顾问还能帮我打包搬家呢。
A: Ha, ha! Nobody wants that job, but at least he can help you get a discount on a moving van.
哈，哈！很不幸那份工作没有人愿意做，不过至少他能帮你把搬家的卡车费讨个折扣。
C: Well then, it sounds like everything is covered. There’s still one more thing.
哇，几乎每件事都打点到了。还有一件事。
A: What’s that?
是什么？
C: Can you help us move?
妳能帮我搬家吗？！
－by Howie Phung
Vocabulary
单词发音
run into 偶然碰到
glum [glʌm] adj. 闷闷不乐的；忧郁的
chum [tʃʌm] n. 好友
suburb [ˋsʌbɝb] n.（城市周围的）近郊住宅区（或村，镇）
down payment 分期付款的头款
counselor [ˋkaʊns!ɚ] n. 顾问，参事
van [væn] n. 有盖小货车；箱形客货两用车
Sentence of the Day
It can help put a roof over your head.
它可帮你找个地方安顿。
roof over your head 栖身之处