VOA标准英语201--Chinese Investor Faces Union Organizers in Ohio

 

Americans who work for one of China’s biggest glass manufacturers are trying to organize a labor¹ union at their factory in the Midwest state of Ohio.

China’s Fuyao Glass came to Dayton, Ohio, two years ago with $600 million to refurbish a closed automobile³ plant. The investment added about 2,000 new jobs to the local economy and boosted Fuyao’s share of the U.S. auto² glass market.

But the factory has also been cited for workplace safety violations⁴ that employee Larry Yates Jr. says show different ways of doing business.

“How they work in China is not how we work over here in America," he said. "In China, you work seven days a week. You do whatever you’re told to do. And in America, you have rules and regulations and guidance that you have to go by. If you don’t go by those, you’re in trouble.”

Federal records show Labor Department inspectors⁵ have been to the Fuyao factory more times than to any other similar U.S. plant. The company has been assessed more than $100,000 in penalties for safety and health violations.

Yates says this shows it is time for Fuyao employees to organize with the United Auto Workers union, or UAW.

“With the UAW being involved, and them helping⁶ us, showing us where to go, which way to go, we can make it a safer place to work," Yates said. "Plus, we would also have a voice on the bargaining table.”

Fuyao America President Jeff Liu says the firm cooperates fully⁷ with all U.S. safety inspections⁸ and modifications⁹. Fuyao’s approach, he says, reflects American self-reliance, not organized labor.

“In America, we advocate for the American Dream. What is the American Dream? It’s relying on yourself," he said. "It’s not going to help you by relying on someone else. So whether it’s a third party or a third person, it’s not going to work. We’re going to do our thing, and do it well. Then we’ll be able to achieve what you need.”

Fuyao is looking for ways to bridge the gap between a Chinese company and an American community. At the same time, people are also watching: Is Fuyao committed to the Dayton area? Do they care about the people who work for them?

The company is funding a $1 million local charity to demonstrate its commitment to the community.

“We’re talking about cultural clash, right?" said Dewang Cao, chairman of Fuyao Glass. "Lots of American companies set up philanthropic foundations. For a company, participating in community events and charitable works is a moral obligation, as well as a social responsibility.”

Fuyao employee Wendel Rutledge says while he knows about the charity, he would rather have help paying for his daughters’ college. But he does not believe a union is the answer.

“What do you need a union for? The rules are rules," said Rutledge. "That’s just me. I don’t believe everybody’s rules are the same. This is America. Everybody’s going to be here sooner or later. We are all going to learn to adapt to the rules and the lifestyles.”

Union backers need signatures from 30 percent of production workers to vote for organizing. Fuyao has formed a new safety committee to hear employee concerns and earlier this year gave production workers a $2-an-hour raise.

1 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

2 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

3 automobile   

n.汽车，机动车

参考例句：

• He is repairing the brake lever of an automobile.他正在修理汽车的刹车杆。
• The automobile slowed down to go around the curves in the road.汽车在路上转弯时放慢了速度。

4 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

5 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

7 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

8 inspections   

n.检查( inspection的名词复数 )；检验；视察；检阅

参考例句：

• Regular inspections are carried out at the prison. 经常有人来视察这座监狱。
• Government inspections ensure a high degree of uniformity in the standard of service. 政府检查确保了在服务标准方面的高度一致。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 modifications   

n.缓和( modification的名词复数 )；限制；更改；改变

参考例句：

• The engine was pulled apart for modifications and then reassembled. 发动机被拆开改型，然后再组装起来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The original plan had undergone fairly extensive modifications. 原计划已经作了相当大的修改。 来自《简明英汉词典》