【看新聞學英語】法國嚴陣以待反退休金改革罷工

【新唐人2010年10月20日訊】【看新聞學英語】

France Braces for Strikes Against Pension Reform
法國嚴陣以待反退休金改革罷工

【新聞關鍵字】

1. brace for: ph. 防備
2. pension: n. 退休金
3. reform: n. 改革
4. rolling strike: n. 持續的罷工
5. stoppage: n. 停工、罷工
6. clog: v. 阻塞、阻礙
7. stake: n. 賭注、籌碼
8. stand-off: n. 僵局
9. call for: ph. 要求
10. heed: v. 注意
11. spell: v.意味
12. comprise: v.妥協
13. back down: ph.放棄、打退堂鼓

France braces for major rolling strikes and stoppages that are expected to clog the streets with traffic and affect nearly all forms of transport in the country, Tuesday.
周二主要的連續罷工和停工，預計使街道交通阻塞，影響國內幾乎所有運輸方式，法國對此嚴陣以待。

Unions are raising the stakes in their stand-off with the government of President Nicolas Sarkozy over pension reform.
工會正提高下注，他們與總統薩科齊政府，在退休金改革案上的僵局。

The French Senate has already voted to raise the minimum retirement age to 62 from 60.
法國參議院已投票決定，最低退休年齡從 60歲提高至62歲。

This time around unions are calling for rolling strikes, not simply a one-day stoppage. Their call is heeded, that could spell days, if not weeks of misery for millions of commuters.
這次各工會要求連續罷工，不僅僅為期一天的停工。他們的訴求要受到注意，如果不是百萬通勤族幾星期的痛苦，可能也要許多天。

Pierre Briancon, an analyst and commentator with Reuters Breakingviews: “The big difference between the last round of demonstrations and strikes, and this one, is that now the law has been passed by parliament. So as much as it is easy for government to compromise on some aspects of the laws, sometimes fundamental aspects of its plans, now that the law is the law of the republic, it’s something that is very official. It’s not something that can be negotiated in backroom deals with unions."
路透社分析評員論皮爾‧比康說：“上回遊行抗議與這次最大的區別，是現在這項法律已由國會通過。所以就政府而言，要在法律某方面、有時是計劃的基本面妥協是相當容易的。現在的法律是共和國的法律，它是非常正式的。這並不是那種能與工會私下談判的交易。”

Unions hope that the stoppages, combined with street demonstrations could force the government to back down.
工會希望罷工、結合街頭示威，能迫使政府讓步。

本新聞影音出處：新唐人電視台英語新聞
http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/ns_europe/2010-10-12/908991683856.html

【今日諺語】
We had better let things happen naturally.
我們最好隨其自然