English 中文网 漫画网 爱新闻iNews 翻译论坛
中国网站品牌栏目(频道)
当前位置: Language Tips> Audio & Video> 新闻播报> Normal Speed News VOA常速

Workers' strikes hit London, France

[ 2010-09-08 17:36]     字号 [] [] []  
免费订阅30天China Daily双语新闻手机报:移动用户编辑短信CD至106580009009

London's tube workers went on a 24-hour strike starting Monday evening that left commuters struggling to make it to work Tuesday morning.

Buses were diverted from central London because streets were at a standstill. Many people were on foot.

This London worker didn't arrive at work until two in the afternoon.

"Normally it takes me 45 minutes and today it took me five hours," she said she was fed up. "I think it was totally unnecessary; it should have been avoided rather than costing all the people trouble because there's been a lot of traffic and disruptions all over."

Thousands of workers on London's transport system walked out because they say proposed job cuts will hurt the service and create safety risks.

Bob Crow is leader of transport union RMT. VOA asked him if the strike is successful.

"Very successful," said Crow. "There's been major disruption and I think London Underground know we're serious now about trying to defend our members' interest."

London wasn't the only European city to be hit by workers' strikes on Tuesday. In Paris and across France unions mounted major strikes in protest against planned pension reforms. Train and air travel, as well as schools and hospitals were disrupted by the strikes.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy says he'll raise the retirement age from 60 to 62, a plan that has met with virulent protest from many French workers. Union leaders said they hoped up to two million people would take to the streets.

Sixty-five is a common retirement age across Europe. Germany and Britain have plans to raise that threshold to 67 or beyond.

British Union leader Crow says workers across Europe are fighting for their rights. "Workers in France are fighting back, they're fighting back all over the place -- Greece, in Ireland, in Portugal, in Spain," added Crow. "And it's quite clear that people are not prepared to be pushed around, they're prepared to stand up and fight."

In London, the strike was set to carry on into the evening. Tuesday afternoon, one worker said she was dreading the commute home.

"When it's cold and wet I don't think I'm going to like walking very much, so yeah, it will probably annoy me a lot more then. And I'm dreading trying to get home tonight," she explained.

London's tube workers have more strikes planned for October and November.

Related stories:

Striking laborers back at work after pay jump

Songs from the American labor movement

Workers angry at takeover halt production in 'silent strike'

Workers strike for compensation

(来源:VOA 编辑:陈丹妮)

 
中国日报网英语点津版权说明:凡注明来源为“中国日报网英语点津:XXX(署名)”的原创作品,除与中国日报网签署英语点津内容授权协议的网站外,其他任何网站或单位未经允许不得非法盗链、转载和使用,违者必究。如需使用,请与010-84883631联系;凡本网注明“来源:XXX(非英语点津)”的作品,均转载自其它媒体,目的在于传播更多信息,其他媒体如需转载,请与稿件来源方联系,如产生任何问题与本网无关;本网所发布的歌曲、电影片段,版权归原作者所有,仅供学习与研究,如果侵权,请提供版权证明,以便尽快删除。
 

关注和订阅

人气排行

翻译服务

中国日报网翻译工作室

我们提供:媒体、文化、财经法律等专业领域的中英互译服务
电话:010-84883468
邮件:translate@chinadaily.com.cn