PRE-LISTENING. Consider the introduction to the unit

Task 1

Consider the introduction to the unit. Answer the following questions and be ready to give a story line. Use the word combinations in brackets.

1. Do Harper & Grant make it a condition of employment that a worker must belong to a certain trade union? What does that mean?

(to have a closed shop; to be members of one or other of the unions; toolmakers; skilled machiners (machinists); sheet-metal workers; assembly-shop workers; fitters; electricians; office staff; to belong to a clerical union)

2. What does being a member of a trade union mean?

(to pay a subscription; to pay a sum of money regularly to the particular union; to be referred to as union dues; to look after union's affairs; a shop steward; to be elected by the workers on the shop floor)

3. What are the responsibilities of a shop steward?

(to be at the day-to-day level of representation between a company and a union; to represent the workers in a particular shop, or department; to be recognised by the management; to serve as a channel of communication both ways; to be allowed to collect union dues on the premises; to hold meetings in the factory or office block; to do something with the permission of the management)

4. In what way do the trade unions use their funds?

(to obtain the best possible working conditions for the members; to organise medical schemes; insurance and legal aid; to use (part of their) funds; the money collected from the members; to pay a weekly sum of money to the members; to be out on official strike)

5. What is called an official strike?

(to be recognised by the union; strike pay; to be compared with the workers' normal wages; to draw a pay; a “wild cat” strike)

6. Do management and unions always cooperate?

(the relationship between management and unions; to be ambitious; to get personal power; to have a grievance; to make somebody angry or annoyed; to create trouble in the works; to help put pressure on the management; in connection with something; a claim for a general wage increase; to be underpaid; to be reluctant; to increase wages; to be forced to do something; to introduce a profit-sharing scheme; to share directly in the results of harder work or better organization)

7. What difficulties and problems do good employee-management relations present?

(to be prepared to take a cut in wages; to have a bad year; to solve problems; to have good relations with the employees; to be a comparatively small 'family' firm)

8. In what way do the management regulate the going-on activities?

(to clock in; to punch a mark on the worker's time card; to correspond with something; to cheat the system; to be a very serious offence; to consult somebody about something; an operative; to ignore the rules)

9. What does the work of a Personnel Manager entail?

(the chief responsibilities; to employ and dismiss staff; to look after somebody / something; to improve the employees' welfare and conditions of work)

Task 2

Give the English equivalents for the following word combinations:

Дата добавления: 2015-07-14