On the wrong track: strikes in France
① Emmanuel Macron faces a test of his reformist resolve as a three-month confrontation with transport unions begins today.
② Train drivers and other workers at SNCF, the national railway company, will carry out rolling strikes; employees in other industries will come out in sympathy.
③ Workers object to plans to end generous terms that guarantee annual pay rises, make dismissal difficult and promise early retirement.
④ The centrist Mr Macron must strike a delicate balance.
⑤ An avowed reformer, anxious not to be bullied by unions like his predecessors, he says loosening rigid labour markets will cut joblessness.
⑥ But he is also accused of being a president for the rich.
⑦ Paradoxically, the public appears both to support strikers (as it traditionally does) and to want the economy reformed.
⑧ SNCF is massively in debt, requiring billions in subsidies from the state.
⑨ It must eventually be made ready for competition.
⑩ Facing down the unions would be a first step.
▍生词好句
on the right/wrong track: 在正确/错误的轨道上
strike /strʌɪk/: n. 罢工 vt. 达成；给人留下印象
go on strike:（举行/参加）罢工
strike a balance/deal: 达成平衡/协议
resolve /rɪˈzɒlv/: n. 决心 v. 解决；下决心
strengthen/weaken/test one's resolve: 加强/弱化/考验某人的决心
resolve to do/that: 下决心要……
confrontation /ˌkɒnfrʌnˈteɪʃn/: n. 对抗；冲突
rolling /ˈrəʊlɪŋ/: adj. 持续的；逐步的
dismissal /dɪsˈmɪsl/: n. 开除；解雇
centrist /ˈsɛntrɪst/: adj./n. 中间派（的）
delicate /ˈdɛlɪkət/: adj. 巧妙的；精妙的
avowed /əˈvaʊd/: adj. 公开宣称的
bully /ˈbʊli/: vt. 欺压；霸凌
school bullying: 校园霸凌
predecessor /ˈpriːdɪsɛsə/: n. 前任
rigid /ˈrɪdʒɪd/: adj. 僵化的；死板的
cut joblessness: 减少失业
accuse /əˈkjuːz/: vt. 指控；指责
subsidy /ˈsʌbsɪdi/: n. 补贴
face down: 击垮；压倒
▍补充例句
1. strike
How does my proposal strike you?
He strikes me as an efficient person.
2. resolve
He resolved that he should speak to the president.
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