VOA常速英语2105--美国工人要求增加最低工资（在线收听）

美国工人要求增加最低工资

LOS ANGELES—Los Angeles is about to become the largest American city to raise its minimum wage to $15 an hour, an increase to be phased in over five years. The wage is more than twice the current minimum rate required by U.S. law, and its approval will be the latest victory in a national drive by labor unions and low-income workers.

Some business groups, however, say such increases will cost jobs.

Protesters demanding a higher minimum wage have been rallying around the country, from New York to Phoenix. Minimum-wage workers went to Los Angeles City Hall last week as council members considered the wage increase. It was given preliminary approval Wednesday and is expected to pass a final vote June 10.

要求增加最低工资的抗议者们在从纽约到凤凰城在内的全国各地举行集会，持最低工资的工人们上周来到洛杉矶市政厅，市政厅成员正考虑加薪，于是周三得到初步批准，有望在6月10日举行最终投票。

The measure will raise the minimum wage in increments starting next year, to reach $15 an hour by 2020. Workers for small businesses and nonprofit organizations will reach the $15 mark the following year.

该措施将使得最低工资从明年开始增加，到2020年达到时薪15美元。小企业和非盈利组织的员工们将在第二年达到15美元。

McDonald's worker Edgar Gonzalez, a young father, said it would make a difference.

麦当劳员工埃德加·冈萨雷兹是一位年轻的父亲，他说这将给自己带来好处。

"It will mean a lot," he said. "It will help me out with rent. It will help me out with diapers. It will help me out with having a better life.”

“这件事意义重大，可以帮我付房租，让我能买得起尿布，帮我过上更好的生活。”

Former Wal-Mart worker Evelyn Cruz said the new wage would keep her from having to make unreasonable choices, such as "if I am going to pay for the roof over my head or food on the table.”

沃玛特前员工伊芙琳·克鲁兹说新工资将让她免于做不合理的选择，比如“必须支付从房顶到餐桌上的食物在内的东西”。

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and some other business groups said that the measure would cost small businesses and could mean layoff instead of pay raises. But the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, a trade union coalition, said the measure would boost the economy and help workers.

美国商务部和其他商业组织称该措施可能对小企业不利，可能还会导致裁员而不是加薪。但贸易商会联盟洛杉矶郡劳工联合会称该措施将促进经济并帮助工人。

Federation official Rusty Hicks said U.S. cities are stepping in where the federal government has not. “That is why you are seeing L.A., San Francisco, Oakland, New York and others step forward and try to address this issue on their own,” he said.

联邦官员希克斯说美国各城市正在联邦政府未能做到的地方努力，“因此你能看到洛杉矶、旧金山、奥克兰、纽约等城市在加大力度，努力自主解决这一问题。”

Business analyst Shon Hiatt of the University of Southern California said companies like McDonald's face stiff competition and slumping sales, and are starting to cut costs, and potentially cut jobs, through automation.

商业分析家南加州大学的希亚特说，像麦当劳这样面临激烈竞争和下滑销量的公司正开始削减成本，并且可能会通过采用自动化来实现裁员。

“McDonald's and other fast-food restaurants are moving in this direction," he said. "You will see the emergence of these touchscreens where individuals can order their food without even having to talk with an employee.”

“麦当劳和其他快餐都在朝这个方向努力，你能看到有这些触屏设备出现，顾客无需和雇员讲话就能实现点餐。”

The drive to raise the minimum wage is spreading. Laphonza Butler of the Service Employees International Union said the goal of $15 an hour might be tailored to local economies and be lower in some cities and higher in others.

要求增加最低工资的活动在蔓延，服务业雇员国际工会的巴特勒说15美元时薪的目标是根据当地经济而定的，在一些城市会低些，在其他城市会高些。

“The number is an aspiration and a symbol as much as anything," Butler said. "The real goal here is to shift the values of our country back to rewarding hard work.”

“这个数字是一种激励，也是一种象征，真正的目标是将我们国家的价值转向回馈给努力的工作。”

As workers savor their victory in Los Angeles, they say the drive to raise the minimum wage across the United States has gained momentum.

就在洛杉矶工人们品味胜利的喜悦时，他们说美国各地要求增加最低工资的浪潮势头正足。