创新国际英语教程第三册 unit20

[00:05.80]3.While you read We can work it out. [00:14.94]Getting a good job in Britain today is far from easy. [00:22.10]More and more young people are going to university, [00:27.38]so a degree has become the minimum qualification required, [00:32.84]whereas once it was a magical door-opening piece of paper. [00:38.69]If your CV does catch a potential employer’s eye [00:45.06]and you’re lucky enough to get called in for an interview, [00:49.82]you then encounter the next hurdle: [00:54.07]you find yourslef in a Catch-22 situation [01:00.13]where you can’t get a job unless you’ve got work experience and, [01:06.30]of course,there’s no way you can get any work experience [01:11.76]until someone feels like giving you a job! [01:16.20]If and when you do finaly manage to land a job, [01:21.97]you then realise that your troubles have only just begun. [01:27.22]The last twenty years have seen radical changes in employment laws, [01:34.69]very few of which have benefited young workers in any way. [01:39.94]Full-time contracts seem to have become a thing of the past, [01:45.22]and instead you’ll probably be offered a short-term casual contract [01:51.18]-even if they’re talking about employing you full-time! [01:56.14]I’ve heard of people who’ve worked full-time for six or seven years [02:02.70]and who are still being paid by the hour! [02:06.96]One good thing that has changed recently,though, [02:11.92]is that at least you’re now entitled to the national minimum wage. [02:17.56]Living on less than five pounds an hour isn’t easy, [02:22.52]but at least you can’t be totally ripped off by your bosses anymore. [02:27.96]Because of all these changes,there’s not much job security anymore. [02:34.41]Companies have learned how to dress up mass redundancies in media-friendly language, [02:42.17]calling huge job cuts’down-sizing’or’corporate restructuring’! [02:48.83]If you do end up out of work,don’t expect your union to be much help. [02:54.89]The power of trade unions was cut dramatically in the 1980s [03:00.53]after the endless industrial action of the 70s [03:05.52]and today they’ve become a little bit toothless. [03:10.17]However,as a recent landmark legal case has shown, [03:15.84]it’s not all down ang gloom,and there is still hope for the workers. [03:22.19]Last month who casual workers, [03:26.86]who were never offered proper contracts of employment, [03:31.62]won the right to the same benefits as full-time workers. [03:36.87]A judge said that because Mrs Carmichael,35, [03:42.93]and Mrs Leese,36,had signed letters accepting jobs at Blyth Power Station, [03:50.19]they should have been treated the same as any other full-time employee of National Power. [03:57.27]However,the two women had been denied holiday and sick pay [04:02.63]and many other benefits normally given to full-staff. [04:08.19]Despite taking income tax from their pay, [04:13.23]making the women wear company uniforms, [04:17.91]and giving them the use of company cars, [04:22.06]National Power tried to insist that Mrs Carmichael [04:27.42]and Mrs Leese never worked directly for the company. [04:32.27]They were,therefore,refused a proper contract, [04:37.84]and were not given any employment protection or benefits. [04:42.80]The judge’s decision means that casual workers all over the country [04:49.28]can now fight for the right to sick pay, [04:53.64]holiday pay,maternity leave and other benefits. [04:58.79]The judgement also means that casual workers [05:03.75]can appeal against unfair dismissal by their employer [05:09.00]if they are sacked without reason. [05:12.66]A solicitor acting on behalf of the two women [05:18.01]said it was a major breakthrough in employment law, [05:22.69]which was likely to have a very positive effect on the working lives [05:28.02]of thousands of men and women employed on a casual basis. [05:33.27]2 While you listen [05:44.63]Listen to three of the people in the pictures talking about their jobs. [05:50.59]As you listen,try to decide what their job is. [05:56.15]So,what exactly does your job involve then? [06:01.30]Well,basically.I prepare all the prescriptions [06:06.73]and keep a check on all the drugs we have in stock. [06:11.28]I also give advice to people who come in with minor problems. [06:17.05]You know the sort of thing-what cream to use for a rash, [06:22.51]what to take for an upset tummy-that sort of thing. [06:26.95]Sometimes,I’m just like a shop assistant,selling things over the counter; [06:32.91]other times I feel like I’m a doctor. [06:37.27]So,how long have you been doing this,then? [06:45.81]All my life-since I left school.I worked with my I father, [06:52.79]and now I’ve got my son working with me. [06:56.84]I really enjoy working with wood. [07:00.99]I love taking a piece of wood and turning it into something useful. [07:06.87]I learned everything I know from watching my father and the older men at work. [07:13.53]Now,it’s great passing on my skills to younger guys. [07:19.09]So,do you enjoy doing what you’re doing? [07:27.35]Yeah,well,I mean,somebody’s got to it,haven’t they? [07:33.09]Just think,if nobody did it,what would the place be like? [07:38.87]I mean,when I was a boy,if you dropped something,the police would be after you, [07:45.32]but these days people don’t care. [07:49.89]They just drop everything-coke cans,cigarette packets, [07:55.95]newspapers,everything,you name it,I’ve picked it up. [08:02.30]Mind you,I’ve found the odd $20 note. [08:07.76]I’d never work indoors.I just couldn’t stand it. [08:13.92]3 Boss jokes [08:26.17]Listen to the jokes.Mark the stresses and pauses. [08:32.84]1.He’s really flexible.He lets me come in any time I want before nine, [08:40.28]and then less me leave whenever I want after five! [08:45.24]2.He’s so mean that if you’re three minutes late for work,he fines you, [08:53.79]and if you turn up five minutes early he actually starts charging you rent! [08:59.43]3.He’s really hard on late-comers. [09:07.79]Actually,one day one of his assistants turned up over an hour late,covered in blood, [09:14.32]and as he staggered over to his desk, [09:18.55]my boss went up to him and asked him where he’d been. [09:23.20]The assistant apologised and said he’d fallen down three flights of stairs. [09:29.97]’What?’said my boss,’that took you a whole hour,did it!’

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