Listen to the following extract from the recording which shows how the situation progressed at the Pension Fund Meeting. Try to complete the gaps, using no more than three words in each case.

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Grant:	Well, gentlemen, this isn't going … … … very long. You've seen Mr. Buckhurst's … … …. They're impeccable as usual. So it's only a question of approving them … … … of the record. Right. Do you all … … …? Good. Well, that's all. I presume there's no … …?
Ian:	Well, there is one thing more, H.G. The question … …, the case of … ….
Grant:	That's … … …. He gets … …, less three years, or whatever it is. You'll see to that, won't you?
Ian:	I don't think it's quite … … … that.
Peter:	There seems to be … … …, H.G. You see, Hardiman left us … … …, as you know.
Grant:	I know very well he did. I've just said so.
Peter:	Quite so. But I felt I should look up … … of … …. Ian, of course, is already aware of this. It seems that if … … of employment is interrupted … … … six months a further period … … … has to be worked before the employee … … … a full pension. If Hardiman continues with us until he's … … …, that is, in three years' time, there is, of course, … …. He will be … …. But as things stand at present he would get, at … … … only about … … of his pension. And we … … … that situation with such an old employee. It would … … … no good at all. He will, naturally, have … … …out of the company's funds to make … … up to … … ….
Grant:	But that's preposterous!
Peter:	But it does seem to be … … … to do.
Grant:	We'll just have … … ….
Peter:	That would require … … …, of course.
Grant:	Oh dear!

Exercise 3

Listen to the following conversation between H.G., Peter and Ian. All the remarks are mixed up. Put them in the order they appear in the Unit. Supply the remarks with the names of their authors.

A …	Well, you win. We keep Hardiman on for three more years. But, Peter, I shall expect you to use your undoubted ingenuity in making full use of him.
B …	No, that would be a very dangerous precedent. No, no. I won't consider that. Ian, this is your scheme, I'm sure.
C …	Of course, sir.
D …	You don't think we could pay the remaining pension out of the company's profits?
E …	Mine, H.G.?

1.	2.	3.	4.	5.

Exercise 4

Act as an interpreter.

Ian:	Well done, Peter.
Питер:	Неплохо. Мы помогли старику Хардиману остаться на фирме. Но меня сейчас беспокоит кое-что другое.
Ian:	What's that?
Питер:	Вы слышали последнюю новость? Старик Амброуз Харпер серьезно болен. Если с ним что-нибудь случится, наша компания окажется в тяжелом положении.
Ian:	Wouldn't Grant take over as Chairman?
Питер:	Я думаю не о том, кто станет следующим председателем правления. Я думаю об акциях нашей компании, которыми владеет Амброуз Харпер.
Ian:	What percentage does he hold?
Питер:	Думаю, около 50%. Отец Гранта владел остальными 50%, но после его смерти акции были разделены поровну между его тремя детьми.
Ian:	What'll happen to Ambrose Harper's shares?
Питер:	Думаю, они достанутся его сестре. Она единственная из его оставшихся в живых родственников.
Ian:	She wouldn't be able to sell them, would she?
Питер:	Я полагаю, их прежде должны будут предложить через нашу фирму другим акционерам. Но сможет ли фирма купить их? Если нет, и если они попадут в руки фирмы, стремящейся завладеть нашей компанией, мы попадем в беду.

Exercise 5

Match the phrases on the left with an appropriate explanation on the right. Fill in the grid below.

1.	pension	A	management of money or property for someone; organization which supervises the financial affairs
2.	pension scheme	B	to become entitled to a pension, to have fulfilled the necessary conditions, and to have the right to receive a pension
3.	fund	C	in this case weekly or monthly payments into the Trust Fund by employer and employee
4.	a trust	D	one of many equal parts into which a company’s capital is divided
5.	articles (of the Pension Fund Trust)	E	to receive some asset, usually money, to balance some loss
6.	contribution	F	account into which money is paid for some purpose
7.	to qualify for a pension	G	unnecessary (about an employee’s job), leading to dismissal, premature retirement or transfer to another department
8.	to be compensated	H	annual income which an employee receives during retirement
9.	share	I	basic salary without commission or extra payment for special work, overtime, etc.
10.	redundant	J	legally registered rules of the Trust, which deal with the qualifications for membership and a full pension
11.	a deed	K	the money is paid by the company and the employee into a fund during the latter’s working life, so that the employee can receive a continuing income from the fund, after he has retired from the company

1.	2.	3.	4.	5.	6.	7.	8.	9.	10.	11.

POST-LISTENING

Consider the following points. Share your ideas with a partner or a small group. Be prepared to explain your answers to the class.

a) Why ought Bob Hardiman to be saved from redundancy?

b) Does Bob Hardiman qualify for a pension and is he entitled to the full one?

c) What is H.G.’s point of view concerning Bob Hardiman’s pension?

d) What do the articles of the pension fund read?

2. Recount the situation as if you were Bob Hardiman.

3. Suppose you are Peter Wiles. Why are you so upset about Ambrose Harper’s health?

4. Render the situation as if you were Ian Hampden.

5. Analyse the situation in Harper & Grant Ltd. as if you were a likely competitor willing to take over the company.

6. Act out a conversation which could have taken place in this situation between

a. Peter Wiles and Bob Hardiman;

b. Hector Grant and William Buckhurst;

c. Peter Wiles and John Martin;

d. a TV commentator on social issues and Bob Hardiman;

e. Ambrose Harper, Peter Wiles and Ian Hampden.

Unit 12

A Labour Dispute

Phrase list

Listen to the tape and practise the pronunciation of the following words and word combinations, quote the sentences in which they are used in the unit. Consult a dictionary and translate them into Russian.

to have a closed shop

office staff

clerical union

to pay a subscription

to collect union dues (on the premises)

shop steward

medical schemes

legal aid

to introduce a profit-sharing scheme

to take a cut in wages

to clock in

Trying to cheat the system is a very serious offence.

to dismiss staff / a case of dismissal

the employees’ welfare

straightforward affair

to get one’s pay docked

to punch the card for some time

to affect the issue

to pay overtime (time and a half)

to have smth (a walk-out) on one’s hands

to bring something up

to press a wage claim

PRE-LISTENING

Task 1

Consider the introduction to the unit. Answer the following questions and be ready to give a story line. Use the word combinations in brackets.

1. Do Harper & Grant make it a condition of employment that a worker must belong to a certain trade union? What does that mean?

(to have a closed shop; to be members of one or other of the unions; toolmakers; skilled machiners (machinists); sheet-metal workers; assembly-shop workers; fitters; electricians; office staff; to belong to a clerical union)

What does being a member of a trade union mean?

(to pay a subscription; to pay a sum of money regularly to the particular union; to be referred to as union dues; to look after union's affairs; a shop steward; to be elected by the workers on the shop floor)

What are the responsibilities of a shop steward?

(to be at the day-to-day level of representation between a company and a union; to represent the workers in a particular shop, or department; to be recognised by the management; to serve as a channel of communication both ways; to be allowed to collect union dues on the premises; to hold meetings in the factory or office block; to do something with the permission of the management)

In what way do the trade unions use their funds?

(to obtain the best possible working conditions for the members; to organise medical schemes; insurance and legal aid; to use (part of their) funds; the money collected from the members; to pay a weekly sum of money to the members; to be out on official strike)

What is called an official strike?

(to be recognised by the union; strike pay; to be compared with the workers' normal wages; to draw a pay; a “wild cat” strike)

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