VOA常速英语2008年-Nigerian Oil Workers Threaten Walkout
时间：2019-02-04 作者：英语课 分类：VOA标准英语2008年（三月）
Abuja
18 March 2008
Nigeria's senior oil workers union is threatening a nationwide strike to protest the firing of some of its members by ExxonMobil. Members are to meet later Tuesday, following the expiration 1 of a 21-day ultimatum 2 issued by the union to the oil company to desist from what the union termed "unfriendly" labor 3 practices. For VOA, Gilbert da Costa reports from Abuja.
Officials of the Petroleum 4 and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association have been meeting top government officials in Abuja to avert 5 the planned strike.
Union President Peter Esele denied reports the walkout is to begin Wednesday. He says his group, one of Nigeria's two biggest oil unions, will attend a meeting Wednesday called by the government .
"I had a meeting with NSA [national security advisor] yesterday, and DG [Director General], SSS [State Security Service]. So what the government is doing is to call parties for a meeting for Wednesday 4:00 PM," he said. "But sincerely speaking, I do not know where the press got Wednesday for strike. One thing we said was that there was a looming 6 strike. We have not, the Central Working Committee, taken a date for a strike."
The union is protesting ExxonMobil job cuts that affected 7 about 60 workers, mostly union officials working at the company.
Nigeria's main trades union, the Nigeria Labor Congress has endorsed 8 the strike call and urged the government to intervene without delay.
ExxonMobil has rejected accusations 9 of unfair treatment of the affected employees, insisting the workers fired under a reorganization plan received generous payouts.
The union says an indefinite strike could blight 10 Nigeria's oil production and petroleum distribution. Analysts 11 say a walkout may have limited success in the short-term, because a skeleton staff may be engaged at production facilities to limit the impact on output. But it could prove effective in the long run if other powerful unions join in solidarity 12.
But even a looming strike could increase pressure on international oil prices. Supply worries are stoking up concerns in Nigeria, Africa's largest oil producer, where production has been crippled by unrest.
- Can I have your credit card number followed by the expiration date?能告诉我你的信用卡号码和它的到期日吗?
- This contract shall be terminated on the expiration date.劳动合同期满，即行终止。
- This time the proposal was couched as an ultimatum.这一次该提议是以最后通牒的形式提出来的。
- The cabinet met today to discuss how to respond to the ultimatum.内阁今天开会商量如何应对这道最后通牒。
- We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
- He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。
- The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
- The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。
- He managed to avert suspicion.他设法避嫌。
- I would do what I could to avert it.我会尽力去避免发生这种情况。
- The foothills were looming ahead through the haze. 丘陵地带透过薄雾朦胧地出现在眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Then they looked up. Looming above them was Mount Proteome. 接着他们往上看，在其上隐约看到的是蛋白质组山。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 回顾与展望
- She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
- His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。
- The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
- He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。
- The apple crop was wiped out by blight.枯萎病使苹果全无收成。
- There is a blight on all his efforts.他的一切努力都遭到挫折。
- City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
- I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。
- They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
- The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。