What does being a member of a trade union mean?

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 545.

Task 1

PRE-LISTENING

Listen to the tape and practise the pronunciation of the following words and word combinations, quote the sentences in which they are used in the unit. Consult a dictionary and translate them into Russian.

Phrase list

to have a closed shop

office staff

clerical union

to pay a subscription

to collect union dues (on the premises)

shop steward

medical schemes

legal aid

to introduce a profit-sharing scheme

to take a cut in wages

to clock in

Trying to cheat the system is a very serious offence.

to dismiss staff / a case of dismissal

the employees' welfare

straightforward affair

to get one's pay docked

to punch the card for some time

to affect the issue

to pay overtime (time and a half)

to have smth (a walk-out) on one's hands

to bring something up

to press a wage claim

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)

(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)