VOA常速英语2019--美国公务员静坐示威 要求结束政府停摆（在线收听）

A silent vigil held at a Senate building across from the Capitol is one of many demonstrations organized by government employee unions across the country to pressure lawmakers to end the shutdown or face retribution in the 2020 election. Voting really does matter because in the upcoming election, this is going to we’re gonna remember who voted in our favor. Since December, about 800,000 federal workers have either been furloughed or forced to work without pay as part of a shutdown caused by a budget dispute over President Donald Trump’s demand for a 5.7 billion dollar southern border wall that Democrats in Congress oppose.

国会参议院大楼举行了静坐示威，这是政府职员工会在全国范围内组织的众多抗议之一，目的是向议员们施压，让他们要么结束停摆，要么在2020年的大选里吃苦头。投票是很重要的一件事，因为在即将到来的大选中，我们记得那些为我们投票的人。自12月以来，近80万名联邦政府公务员不是暂时休假，就是被迫无薪工作，这都是政府停摆的部分影响。而政府停摆的起因是国会对特朗普总统的一项要求存在争议，这项要求就是要划拨57万美元的资金建造南部边境墙。这是国会民主党所反对的。

So far, these rallies have not forced either side to compromise and union lawsuits charging that the shutdown violates labor laws have stalled, as the courts seem reluctant to insert themselves in a political dispute. Some labor supporters are now calling for more disruptive actions such as a mass sick-out by federal workers that could impact vital government functions. It would be about getting public attention, and even more important, causing the government to focus on this problem. Unions have not endorsed a massive sick-out strategy that could put employees at risk of being fired. Federal law prohibits government workers from participating in a mass work stoppage. However, the absentee rate among airport security screeners during the shutdown has risen to ten percent. You know, sooner or later, you’re not gonna have to have a mass sick-out.

目前为止，示威联盟还没能迫使任何一党作出妥协，虽然工会发起诉讼，控诉政府停摆违背了劳动法，但诉讼毫无进展，因为各法院似乎不愿意搅进政治纠纷的浑水中。一些工会支持者现在正在呼吁加大示威力度，比如各联邦政府公务员拖病矿工，这样可以影响核心政府部门的运作。做这些就是要获得公众关注，更为重要的是，要让政府关注这个问题。各工会暂未表示支持大规模拖病矿工的策略，因为这可能会让一些员工面临被炒鱿鱼的风险。联邦法禁止政府公务员参与大规模罢工。不过，机场安检人员的缺勤率在停摆期间已经上升到了10%。早晚都要到不得不进行大规模拖病矿工的地步的。

Sooner or later, people aren’t going to have money to put gas in their car to literally drive to work. Whether caused by a financial need or part of a labor protest, the reduced staffing has caused longer than usual delays at some airports, and could add pressure on the government to end the shutdown.

早晚人们都会身无长物，没钱买汽油，开不起车，上不了班的。无论是处于财务需求还是抗议罢工的原因，人手不足已经导致一些机场延误时间长于往常，这会给政府加大压力，迫使政府停摆的。