A： labor relations have been getting heated over the last few days. There’s even talk of a strike if contract negotiations don’t go smoothly. B： I would hate to see the negotiations go sour， because the last thing we need is more trouble from the labor union. What do they want this time？

    A： they are demanding another raise for full-time employees and more vacation days. They claim there’s an increase of work-related stress， so there ought to be some kind of compensation for higher perssure on the job. B： hasn’t it always been stressful？ Why make demands now？

    A： with cutbacks after the recession， there is more workload per employee， so in actuality they do have more stress now than in the past. I just don’t know if it warrants a pay raise foe everyone. B： I guess the labor union seems to think so.最近这些日子劳资关系越来越紧张。有传闻说如果合同谈判不能顺利进行就会举行罢工。

    我不愿意看到谈判失败，因为我们最不想要的就是公会给我们带来太多的麻烦。这次他们想要干什么？

    他们要求给全日制的工人在增加一次工资，增加更多的假期。他们，声称工作压力越来越大，所以应该对工作带来的高压给予某种补偿。

    共组不是一直都很紧张吗？为什么现在才提出要求。

    由于萧条期之后进行了人员裁减，每个员工的工作量就更大了。所以事实上他们比过去的压力更大。我只是知道这是否就是给大家加薪的正当理由。

    我想公会也这么认为。

    Heated： of a person or discussion 人或讨论 full of anger and excitement 愤怒的；激烈的；十分激动的a heated argument/debate激烈的争论／辩论She became very heated.她不禁怒火中烧。Smoothly： without problems or difficulties 顺利地The interview went smoothly.面谈进展顺利。

    Compemsation： something， especially money， that somebody gives you because they have hurt you， or damaged something that you own； the act of giving this to somebody 补偿（或赔偿）物；（尤指）赔偿金，补偿金；赔偿 uncountable countable ~ （for sth）

    to claim/award/receive compensation要求╱判给╱得到赔偿金to pay compensation for injuries at work支付工伤赔偿金to receive