AUDIO
BUSINESS DIALOGUES
BUSINESSDIALOGUES
THE PAY PROPOSAL In this dialogue, Chris, from the sales department, is talking to Mike, from distribution, about the latest pay proposals from management. Listen to the dialogue and see if you can answer these two questions:
Chris: Mike: Chris:
1. Why are Chris and Mike angry? 2. Does the new proposal apply to them both? Mike: Mike: Chris:
Have you seen the latest proposal from management? Yeah, a freeze on all pay rises. What happened to their promise of a 5% increase? Mike: Yeah, it’s a disgrace. And they think they can get away with it. Chris: Yeah, there’s no justification because production is up and sales are booming. Mike: It’s an outrage. I say we should go on strike. Chris: Yeah, if they want a confrontation, we should give them one. Oh look, the financial director has just come out of her office. Quick, you talk to her! Mike: (speaking to the director) Excuse me, we’ve just seen the latest pay proposal and frankly we’re not at all happy. Director: I’m sorry but I’m very busy at the moment. Mike: Oh, right, very well, I’ll let you get on then. Chris: Excuse me. You can’t just walk off like that! We want to talk to you. Director: Well I’m busy. Put your complaints in writing and we’ll see what we can do. Chris: Look, you can’t just go around treating people like that, we demand… Director: Hey, wait a minute! What are you talking about? The pay freeze doesn’t apply to your department - I don’t know why you’re making such a fuss. Chris: Oh, so it doesn’t apply to me personally, does it? Director: That’s right. Your department is getting an 8% increase, which is four points above inflation. Isn’t that good
enough for you? Oh, no, very nice. Thank you very much. So, I’ll just let you get to your meeting. Wait a minute. I thought you said that it was an outrage. Yes, of course it’s an outrage. It’s not a personal outrage - it’s a sort of outrage against humanity, but it’s just not a personal one. So, how about a coffee? No, I don’t think so.
Exercise Now listen to some extracts from the conversation again. You will notice there are some missing words and a beeping sound. See if you can write the missing word. (The answers are on the page 46.) 1. They can get away _______ it. 2. I say we should go ________ strike. 3. I’m very busy _______ the moment. 4. We want to talk ______ you. 5. The pay freeze doesn’t apply _______ your department.
GLOSSARY a pay proposal n an idea about pay and salary increases a freeze on all pay rises exp no more increases for the workers’ salaries. Literally, to “freeze” food, is to make it become ice to get away with something exp to do something bad and not to suffer the consequences of this bad action production is up exp production has increased sales are booming exp sales are increasing a lot an outrage n if you say that something is an “outrage”, you think it is horrible, disgusting and unfair
to go on strike exp if workers “go on strike”, they stop working and demand better pay or conditions I’ll let you get on then exp I’ll let you continue busy adj if you are “busy”, you have lots of work to do and little time to do it to apply vb if a situation “applies” to you, it is relevant and important for you to make a fuss exp to cause problems; to complain
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