CNN 2010-10-07

This is the entrance to a high speed train linking Madrid with Barcelona, Seville and Malaga, normally there will be dozens of taxies and cars right here, dropping people off, rushing into their trains. Not this day.

 

Not for long distance trains and not for commuter¹ trains either, in Madrid and other major cities, minimum services for the general strike meant far fewer trainings than normal and large crowds waiting. 

 

I'm going to the university, because some teachers said that they are going to work but I'm waiting for the train. Since it's still not coming, I don't know when I'm going to get there.

 

Outside the bus stop, same story.  Long lines, few buses. Union say industry slowed for the day with electrical comsuption down about 17 percent.  Many stores and restaurants closed. Traffic were than normal with brisk as many people try to get to work in their cars. But the union protectors had the plan to block that attack too, with bicycles, outnumber police were in no mood to see the ground.

 

They don't want the working class to be united, we've been opressed for a long time, and now this is the 1st general strike in 8 years.

 

The workers are angry about the government's deficit² cutting or austerity plan in labor³ reforms, the socialist⁴ government saying its traditional allies the unions on strike offer the moderate stance.

 

Our public services are being met dispite the strike, even though there have been minor⁵ problems throughout the day, the government is satisfied that the strike has not created major disruptions.

 

This union machinist remembers the strike his father and auto⁶ worker took part in to win labor right years ago. He says he does not want to lose ground now even as the others see the reform as necessary and inevitable⁷.

 

What we can not do in Spain is to take a step back, everyt ime we do that, it takes us a year to recuperate⁸.  A small mistake takes us a year to do over.

 

The unions claimed a 70% following for the strike, a large demonstration⁹ in Madrid later in the day aimed to show the union's musle. The government has offered to negotiate, but union leaders demanded a complete goverment about faith

1 commuter   

n.(尤指市郊之间)乘公交车辆上下班者

参考例句：

• Police cordoned off the road and diverted commuter traffic. 警察封锁了道路并分流交通。
• She accidentally stepped on his foot on a crowded commuter train. 她在拥挤的通勤列车上不小心踩到了他的脚。

2 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

3 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• 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。

4 socialist   

n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的

参考例句：

• China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家，也是一个发展中国家。
• His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。

5 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

6 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。

7 inevitable   

adj.不可避免的，必然发生的

参考例句：

• Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。
• The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。

8 recuperate   

v.恢复

参考例句：

• Stay in the hospital for a few more days to recuperate.再住院几天，好好地恢复。
• He went to the country to recuperate.他去乡下养病去了。

9 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。