ESL Podcast 252 - A Workers Strike

to strike - to refuse to work because the workers are protesting (showing that they do not approve of) something

The teachers are striking because they want to get more money for the work that they do.

management - the group of people with the most power in an organization or business; the people who run, manage, and control an organization or business

Many of the workers were mad when they learned how much money management was making.

grievances - complaints, especially about something where one works

The hospital workers' grievances are that they are tired of working 12 hours each day and that they don't like the food in the cafeteria.

hold on - an expression that means, "Wait a minute," or "Don't be in such a hurry"

When Sandra said she wanted to paint her house purple, I said, "Hold on. Are you sure that the neighbors won't be angry?"

hasty - too quick; too fast; in a hurry

Going to Hawaii for vacation was a hasty decision, and they soon realized that they didn't have enough money to enjoy the trip.

sickout - a protest (showing publicly that one does not approve of something) against a company where all the workers stay home and say that they are sick on the same day

When Walt received two calls from workers who said they were sick, he believed them, but when ten workers called, he knew that it was a sickout.

to mean business - to be serious; to mean what one says

The boss's face was very serious and we knew that he meant business when he said we had to finish the project as quickly as possible.

to get (someone's) back up - to annoy someone; to make someone angry

I didn't mean to get your back up when I said that the new plan wasn't what I had envisioned.

collective bargaining - official meetings and talks between a union and a company about the workers' pay and benefits

The collective bargaining session lasted all night, but they finally reached an agreement about how much money the workers should be paid for overtime.

contract - a legal, written agreement between two people or organizations

When she started working for KPMG, she had to sign a contract promising that she wouldn't talk about her projects with people outside of the company.

to stall - to be delayed; to stop making progress; to stop moving forward

Children often stall when their parents tell them to go to bed by asking for a glass of water, brushing their teeth very slowly, or asking their parents to read them a story.

to put pressure on (someone) - to try to make someone do something; to force someone to do something they don't want to do

Riana's parents put a lot of pressure on her to become a doctor, but she wants to study music.

to come to (someone's) terms - to agree with someone; to agree to the conditions that another person or other side wants

The two countries finally came to each other's terms and the war ended.

to picket - to protest (to show publicly that one does not approve of something) by standing in front of a building with large signs

The students are picketing in front of the university president's office because they are angry that their tuition is going up.

to cross a picket line - to walk through a line of people picketing (protesting with signs) to go to work

Crossing a picket line is difficult because it means that you don't support what your co-workers are doing.

scab - an insulting term for a person who crosses a picket line (a group of people protesting with signs) to go to work

When the workers crossed the picket line, the picketers threw rocks at the scabs and told them that what they were doing was wrong.

to count (one) out - to not include someone; to not rely on someone

If you're going to go to that party just so you can drink, count me out. I'm not interested in seeing you get sick again.