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2007年VOA标准英语-Nigerian Labor Unions Suspend Oil Strike

时间：2007-06-29 06:19:13

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（单词翻译）

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
24 June 2007

People stand next to their motor bikes as they await fuel to arrive during a nationwide general strike in Lagos, Nigeria, 21 Jun 2007
People stand next to their motor bikes as they await fuel to arrive during a nationwide general strike in Lagos, Nigeria, 21 Jun 2007
Nigeria's labor1 unions have suspended a four-day general strike after reaching a compromise with government late Saturday night. For VOA, Gilbert da Costa reports the announcement is a relief for millions of Nigerians who endured four grim days of a total shutdown.

 

Leaders of both the blue-collar Nigeria Labor Congress and the white-collar Trades Union Congress endorsed2 the agreement reached with government representatives. A presidency3 official, Taminu Yakubu, read the communiqué.

 

"The NLC/TUC general strike is suspended with effect from midnight 23rd June, 2007. All business premises4, factories and public offices shall now resume normal operations. The 10 naira per liter increase in the price of kerosene5 and diesel6 is reversed. The 10 naira increase in the pump head price of petrol is reduced to five naira per liter. Consequently, petrol will now sell at 70 naira per liter," announced Yakubu.

 

Virtually all the demands of organized labor were granted, except the reversal of the 15 per cent hike in the pump price of petroleum7 products imposed on the country by former president Olusegun Obasanjo.

 

Unions grudgingly8 accepted a five naira, about four U.S. cents, per liter increase, down from the previous 10 naira, or eight cents per liter.

 

The shutdown in the world's eighth largest oil exporter paralyzed economic activity. Nigeria is believed to have lost about $400 million per day during the four-day work stoppage.

 

The agreement says workers will not be penalized9 for joining the strike.

 

"No staff or worker shall face disciplinary action arising from their participation10 in the strike," added Yakubu.

 

Most Nigerian supported the strike because gasoline prices affect the cost of most basic goods.

 

Nigeria's four refineries11 have closed for months, forcing Africa's largest producer of crude oil to import petroleum products for domestic use.

 

The government justified12 the fuel price increase by pointing to rising world prices and the millions of dollars spent every year on subsidies13.


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1 labor P9Tzs     
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。
2 endorsed a604e73131bb1a34283a5ebcd349def4     
vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品
参考例句：
  • The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 presidency J1HzD     
n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)
参考例句：
  • Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
  • Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。
4 premises 6l1zWN     
n.建筑物，房屋
参考例句：
  • According to the rules,no alcohol can be consumed on the premises.按照规定，场内不准饮酒。
  • All repairs are done on the premises and not put out.全部修缮都在家里进行，不用送到外面去做。
5 kerosene G3uxW     
n.(kerosine)煤油，火油
参考例句：
  • It is like putting out a fire with kerosene.这就像用煤油灭火。
  • Instead of electricity,there were kerosene lanterns.没有电，有煤油灯。
6 diesel ql6zo     
n.柴油发动机，内燃机
参考例句：
  • We experimented with diesel engines to drive the pumps.我们试着用柴油机来带动水泵。
  • My tractor operates on diesel oil.我的那台拖拉机用柴油开动。
7 petroleum WiUyi     
n.原油，石油
参考例句：
  • The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
  • The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。
8 grudgingly grudgingly     
参考例句：
  • He grudgingly acknowledged having made a mistake. 他勉强承认他做错了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Their parents unwillingly [grudgingly] consented to the marriage. 他们的父母无可奈何地应允了这门亲事。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
9 penalized c88c37e7a177d0a347c36794aa587e91     
对…予以惩罚( penalize的过去式和过去分词 )； 使处于不利地位
参考例句：
  • You will be penalized for poor spelling. 你拼写不好将会受到处罚。
  • Team members will be penalized for lateness. 队员迟到要受处罚。
10 participation KS9zu     
n.参与，参加，分享
参考例句：
  • Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
  • The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。
11 refineries f6f752d4dedfa84ee0eead1d97a27bb2     
精炼厂( refinery的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • The efforts on closedown and suspension of small sugar refineries, small saccharin refineries and small paper mills are also being carried out in steps. 关停小糖厂、小糖精厂、小造纸厂的工作也已逐步展开。
  • Hence the sitting of refineries is at a distance from population centres. 所以，炼油厂的厂址总在远离人口集中的地方。
12 justified 7pSzrk     
a.正当的，有理的
参考例句：
  • She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
  • The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。
13 subsidies 84c7dc8329c19e43d3437248757e572c     
n.补贴，津贴，补助金( subsidy的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. 欧洲各国农业部长在农业补贴问题上未能打破僵局。
  • Agricultural subsidies absorb about half the EU's income. 农业补贴占去了欧盟收入的大约一半。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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