英伦广角 2010-03-21 英航期望通过谈判避免罢工

It’s only matter of an hour to go before plan stoppage by 12,000 cabin crew. BA’s boss, Wily Wash has gone on the offensive, taking out full page advertisement criticizing Unite Union, and promising¹ to keep the flight flying for customers. But the airline is hurting. Even before the midnight strike begins, it’s estimated BA has already lost as much as  27 million pounds, through 103,000 passenger cancellations. Talks between Mr. Wash and Unites’ Tony A continued until late last night.
- With a joint² overnight, so the meeting will begin tomorrow morning.
- OK, what time do you think you can start?
- I’m not sure yet, but we’ve pretty much ready for it.
-And they will come back there?
- That’s in case.
-Still hopeful? Always hopeful?
- Oh, I can tell you this.
The cabin crew staffs remain define thousands of them due to rally late xxx. That meeting could be crucial in gaining acceptance in any last minute deal. If the talks fail, be able to kick off huge contingency³ plan. The airline claims it able to put 60% passengers that are around 135,000 on their original flights after more staffs said they cross the picky lines. The Union has accused BA of bluffing⁴.
-        Anyone travels on the first three days the strike, that’s tomorrow, Sunday and Monday, has had pretty much a week to get use to what their options are and decide what to refund⁵, to travel with somebody else, or in many cases, that’s 2 out of 3 travellers will just be on the BA flight they booked on.

1 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

2 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

3 contingency   

n.意外事件，可能性

参考例句：

• We should be prepared for any contingency.我们应该对任何应急情况有所准备。
• A fire in our warehouse was a contingency that we had not expected.库房的一场大火是我们始料未及的。

4 bluffing   

n. 威吓，唬人 动词bluff的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• I don't think he'll shoot—I think he's just bluffing. 我认为他不会开枪—我想他不过是在吓唬人。
• He says he'll win the race, but he's only bluffing. 他说他会赢得这场比赛，事实上只是在吹牛。

5 refund   

v.退还，偿还；n.归还，偿还额，退款

参考例句：

• They demand a refund on unsatisfactory goods.他们对不满意的货品要求退款。
• We'll refund your money if you aren't satisfied.你若不满意，我们愿意退款给你。