PBS高端访谈:帮助联邦工作人员渡过难关(在线收听

JUDY WOODRUFF: As we heard earlier, many federal workers are nearing a boiling point as this government shutdown drags on. There are many efforts around the country to provide help and some relief to workers, too many to count and show here. But Amna Nawaz gives us a sampling of what's being done.

AMNA NAWAZ: Judy, pop-up food pantries set up across the U.S. are distributing free meals to federal employees going without a paycheck. In a number of airports around the country, airlines and executives have set up food banks to help TSA workers on the job.

TANYA ALLEN, Vice President, Paradies Lagardere Dining: They have children at home, and we offer them food vouchers at work, but my heart just went out to the families.

AMNA NAWAZ: In Connecticut, nonprofit groups are feeding nearly 160 employees at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, who've also had to go without their paychecks.

TROY CASTINEIRA, Furloughed Coast Guard Civilian Worker: A lot of people have lost faith in humanity, but, you know, this right here, you know, goes to show you that we are appreciated and there are people to help.

AMNA NAWAZ: There are some banks from Oklahoma to Colorado now helping customers who are feeling the pressure of their bills. That's included everything from essentially covering their paychecks for now, to providing interest-free loans, so people can then pay their rent or mortgages. Philadelphia's mayor is one of many city leaders offering flexibility in bill payments, delaying enforcement actions, including water shutoffs and eviction. Back here in the capital, the D.C. Diaper Bank is distributing 100 diapers per baby and other products to Coast Guard families. And school districts across Maryland, D.C. and Virginia are holding job fairs, targeting furloughed federal workers. Hundreds are now waiting in line to hand out their resumes.

JONATHAN ROOT, NASA Program Manager: Like many others, it's causing cash flow problems and anxieties and stress along with that, and meeting various obligations is difficult. I have a daughter in college. And one of the concerns is paying the tuition for the rest of her semester.

AMNA NAWAZ: Plus, a different source of relief: free beer. A group called Pay It Furloughed has set up a Web site to allow workers to grab a cold one at capital breweries. For all of these efforts, many workers are expected to miss a second paycheck on Friday, and some will soon be faced with the decision of whether or not to file for unemployment.

朱迪·伍德拉夫:大家都有听说,很多联邦政府的公务员已在爆发的边缘,因为政府停摆一直在持续。全国各地做了很多的努力,想要为他们提供帮助和救济。由于多不胜数,所以这里不再一一叙述。但我台记者阿姆纳·纳瓦兹向我们发回了这些努力的一些代表案例。

阿姆纳·纳瓦兹:朱迪好。美国各地的发放救济食品室正在分发免费餐给联邦政府的公务员,不收取分毫。各地的许多机场里,航空公司和主管们都建立了食物银行,帮助运输安全管理局的人渡过难关。

塔尼娅·艾伦, Paradies Lagardere餐厅的副主任:他们家里都有孩子,所以我们在他们工作时给他们发粮食券,但其实我的心挂念的是他们的家人。

阿姆纳·纳瓦兹:康涅狄格州的一些非营利组织有近160名员工是新伦敦海军警卫队的队员。这些队员也只能无薪工作。

特洛伊·卡斯蒂内拉,暂时休假的海军警卫队队员:很多人对人性失去了信心,但在这里,大家可以看到人们对我们的赞许,也能看到八方伸出援手。

阿姆纳·纳瓦兹:包括俄克拉荷马州和科罗拉多州在内的一些银行正在帮助倍感压力的顾客应付账单的问题。帮助的范围无所不包,从填补工资的空白,到提供免息贷款,这样大家才能付得起房租和抵押贷款。费城市长和其他很多市领导一道,在账单支付的问题上提供了很大的灵活空间,推迟了强制付款的节点,包括家里堵水和被驱逐的问题。首都华盛顿这里的婴儿用品银行将要分发尿布,每名婴儿发100份。此外还会发放一些东西给海军警卫队的家属。马里兰州、华盛顿、弗吉尼亚州的各个学区将要举行招聘会,面向的都是暂时休假的联邦政府公务员。上百人正在排队等着推送简历。

乔纳森·罗特,美国宇航局项目经理:跟很多次危机一样,这次危机引发了现金流的问题,也引发了人们的焦虑情绪。要兼顾肩上的各种胆子很有难度。我有个女儿正在上大学。我担心的一个问题就是支付她下学期的学费。

阿姆纳·纳瓦兹:还有聊以慰藉的免费啤酒。有一个名为为无薪公务员支付账单的组织建立了一个网站,让公务员可以从啤酒厂里拿酒。虽然有这些努力,但很多公务员周五还是会第二次拿不到工资。一些人不久后就要面临是否申请失业保护的选择。

  原文地址:http://www.tingroom.com/lesson/pbs/sh/501586.html