美国国家公共电台 NPR--Classes are resuming in the Los Angeles Unified School District after a strike

Classes are resuming in the Los Angeles Unified¹ School District after a strike

Transcript²

NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with Yolanda Reed, a part-time special education assistant in Los Angeles, about the demands of school support staff that led to a three-day strike.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Students return to class today in Los Angeles. A walkout by service workers is over, contract talks are not. So no raise yet for our next guest, Yolanda Reed, who's spent the last three days on the picket³ lines. She's a part-time special education assistant at Hamilton High School. Welcome to the program.

YOLANDA REED: Thank you.

INSKEEP: What were the last few days like for you?

REED: Very overwhelming and exciting and impressive, honestly.

INSKEEP: What do you mean by impressive? This is when you're out on the picket lines. Is that what you mean?

REED: Yes. It was very impressive to see how many people came out in supported, how many parents, How many students, How many teachers. It was beautiful.

INSKEEP: Were you standing⁴ on the picket lines outside of Hamilton High? And you're saying the students who were not in school, the parents who were affected⁵ in some way, the teachers who honored the picket lines, a lot of them came by to say hi?

REED: They actually stood out there the whole time with us in the rain and picketed⁶ - the parents, the students and the teachers.

INSKEEP: Do you feel that you made your point?

REED: Yes, I really do.

INSKEEP: Let's talk about what the purpose was here. It was, as some people who've listened to this program will know, a three-day strike. It was planned to be three days. You weren't going until there was a contract, a three-day strike. And it was hoped that that would affect negotiations⁷ with the LA school district. What have you heard from that side of things?

REED: Well, honestly, we did receive an email last night stating that they were in talks all day yesterday. And they did not come up with a solution yet, but they will continue conversation today.

INSKEEP: A couple of numbers here will remind people that your union, if I'm not mistaken, is seeking a 30% raise over several years. How would that affect your life?

REED: Yes, that would affect my life. I would have more time to spend with my kids and family. I wouldn't have to work four jobs. I could drop one of those. And just more security more than anything.

INSKEEP: Wait a minute. You work four jobs right now?

REED: Yes.

INSKEEP: You're a part-time special education assistant at Hamilton High. What are the other three jobs?

REED: In-home service where I care for elderly people. I do hair and makeup⁸. And I have an online boutique.

INSKEEP: Well, first, thank you for taking care of so many people. Thank you.

REED: Of course. My pleasure. I love it.

INSKEEP: Second, what is your hourly wage right now?

REED: My hourly wage right now is somewhere around $28 an hour. I think it's a little less like between 25 and $28 an hour.

INSKEEP: And about how many hours a week generally?

REED: About 30 to 35 hours a week.

INSKEEP: Oh, OK. So that is not quite a part - well, is a part-time job, but it's a most-of-the-way-to-the-full-time kind of job.

REED: Right. It's real close to full time.

INSKEEP: So you're saying you received an email that the union and the school district are negotiating. That's something that was not happening before the strike. My understanding is the schools were submitting offers to the union. The union wasn't even responding. Is that making you optimistic, then?

REED: Yes. I'm very optimistic right now.

INSKEEP: Whatever happens with the contract talks, you mentioned that scene at the school, at the picket line with people standing with you. Do you feel that you've gained more respect or at least been informed about how much respect you have?

REED: Yes. I feel like we've gained more respect. And I feel like a big secret is out there about how much money we've been making all this time, and that is not that much money.

INSKEEP: Looking forward to getting back to school today?

REED: Yes, always looking forward to being with the kids.

INSKEEP: OK. Yolanda Reed is a member of the School Service Employees Union in Los Angeles. Thanks for your time.

REED: Thank you so much.

1 unified   

(unify 的过去式和过去分词)； 统一的； 统一标准的； 一元化的

参考例句：

• The teacher unified the answer of her pupil with hers. 老师核对了学生的答案。
• The First Emperor of Qin unified China in 221 B.C. 秦始皇于公元前221年统一中国。

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 picket   

n.纠察队；警戒哨；v.设置纠察线；布置警卫

参考例句：

• They marched to the factory and formed a picket.他们向工厂前进,并组成了纠察队。
• Some of the union members did not want to picket.工会的一些会员不想担任罢工纠察员。

4 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

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 picketed   

用尖桩围住（picket的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• They picketed the restaurant. 他们在饭馆外设置纠察。
• Humboldt riotously picketed Von Trenk but the play was a hit. 尽管洪堡肆意破坏《冯·特伦克》的上演，然而这个剧还是轰动一时。

7 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

8 makeup   

n.组织；性格；化装品

参考例句：

• Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
• Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？