2006年VOA标准英语-GM Announces New Round of Job Cuts and Low

By Mil Arcega
Washington, D.C.
29 March 2006
 
watch General Motors report

American carmaker General Motors is laying off hundreds of salaried workers, after suffering losses in the billions of dollars last year.  The Detroit-based automaker is in the midst of a major restructuring and has already announced plans to cut 30,000 hourly workers.

-----------------------------------------------------

  
  

Bruised² by increasing foreign competition, and battered³ by losses totaling more than $10 billion last year, the world's largest automaker is bracing⁴ its workers for a new round of job cuts.  G.M. said fewer than 500 salaried workers at 30 U.S. locations are immediately affected⁵, but Paul Ballew, G.M.'s chief of Global Marketing⁶, said the layoffs⁷ could run into the thousands before the end of the year.

"It certainly has been a challenge.  We're all focused on the fact that it's not an easy time but what we need to do is get the company healthy again in North America, which requires tough decisions," he said.

This was the second major announcement in a week from the Detroit-based automaker, which offered early retirement⁸ buy-outs last Wednesday to hourly union workers in an attempt to cut 30,000 union jobs and close 12 manufacturing plants by 2008. 

"What's going to be coming to G.M. hopefully through this process, will be a leaner and more competitive manufacturer," said Ballew.

To become more competitive in an increasingly crowded field of domestic and foreign automakers, G.M. has adopted a new marketing strategy, slashing⁹ the average price on most of its cars and trucks by $1,300.  G.M. says the new pricing plan will mean fewer discounts and rebates¹⁰.

Auto¹ analyst¹¹ David Zoia says it's an ambitious plan and he says G.M. needs it. "There's a big package of things they have to do and time is of the essence."

G.M.'s auto sales are up 1.5 percent in the first quarter of 2006, compared to an industry wide increase of 3.8 percent.

1 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

2 bruised   

[医]青肿的，瘀紫的

参考例句：

• his bruised and bloodied nose 他沾满血的青肿的鼻子
• She had slipped and badly bruised her face. 她滑了一跤，摔得鼻青脸肿。

3 battered   

adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损

参考例句：

• He drove up in a battered old car.他开着一辆又老又破的旧车。
• The world was brutally battered but it survived.这个世界遭受了惨重的创伤,但它还是生存下来了。

4 bracing   

adj.令人振奋的

参考例句：

• The country is bracing itself for the threatened enemy invasion. 这个国家正准备奋起抵抗敌人的入侵威胁。
• The atmosphere in the new government was bracing. 新政府的气氛是令人振奋的。

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• 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。

6 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

7 layoffs   

临时解雇( layoff的名词复数 )； 停工，停止活动

参考例句：

• Textile companies announced 2000 fresh layoffs last week. 各纺织公司上周宣布再次裁员两千人。
• Stock prices broke when the firm suddenly announced layoffs. 当公司突然宣布裁员时，股票价格便大跌

8 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

9 slashing   

adj.尖锐的；苛刻的；鲜明的；乱砍的v.挥砍( slash的现在分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减

参考例句：

• Slashing is the first process in which liquid treatment is involved. 浆纱是液处理的第一过程。 来自辞典例句
• He stopped slashing his horse. 他住了手，不去鞭打他的马了。 来自辞典例句

10 rebates   

n.退还款( rebate的名词复数 )；回扣；返还（退还的部份货价）；折扣

参考例句：

• The VAT system offers advantages, such as rebates on exports. 增值税有其优点，如对出口商品实行回扣。 来自辞典例句
• In more recent years rate rebates have been introduced for households. 近年地方税的减免已适用于家庭。 来自辞典例句

11 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。