WORKING CONDITIONS IN THE WORKPLACE

Working conditions are at the core of paid work and employment relationships. Generally speaking, working conditions cover a broad range of topics and issues, from working time (hours of work, rest periods, and work schedules) to remuneration, as well as the physical conditions and mental demands that exist in the workplace.

International Labour Organization

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AUDIO DOCUMENTS to listen to:

1- RETIREMENT NOT A CHOICE:

click on : https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B27heazt3JOOUy1VSG9TdW1GSXc/view?usp=sharing

Retirement	Source	Date
Audio 11 – Retirement not a Choice	CBC News	15 November 2013
Notes de vocabulaire	Autres mots contenus dans le script
a wake-up call: un signal d’alarme step away from: s’éloigner de (to) transition: faire la transition make ends meet: joindre les deux bouts (to) downsize: diminuer get down expenses: faire baisser ses dépenses belt-tightening : le fait de se serrer la ceinture	Canadians Scott Peterson (journalist) traumatic RPC study drastic measures

2- ZERO-HOURS CONTRACTS IN BRITAIN:

click on : https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B27heazt3JOOaVJZUFpMT3dlTXc/view?usp=sharing

WORKING CONDITIONS	Source	Date
AUDIO 12  – Zero-hours contracts in Britain	BBC News	5 August 2013
Notes de vocabulaire	Autres mots contenus dans le script
	Business Secretary Vince Cable

CORRECTION:
This audio recording entitled zero-hours contract taken from BBC News and broadcast on (the) 5th (of) August 2013 deals with working conditions at Amazon.com's warehouses in the Midlands in the UK.

Compte rendu:
I. What is Amazon?
II. The economic context of the Midlands and the people's expectations
III. Horrendous working conditions at Amazon's warehouses
IV. Why such practices?

Commentary:
I. What do I know about Amazon?
II. Working conditions at Amazon?
III. Link to global economic work context? connection with Wages concerns at Burgerkings...
IV. What do I expect of a future job in terms of working conditions?
V. How to solve the problem?

VOCAB NOTES:
to moniter: surveiller
to be monitered around the clock: être surveillé en permanence
no guaranteed set hours: pas d'heures fixes garanties
labour cost: les coûts de main d'oeuvre
to avoid legal obligations: éviter des obligations légales
a pattern: un shéma
an extensive use of the zero-hours contract: un usage excessif du contrat à heures non fixées
rather than: plutôt que
the closure of the coal mines: la fermeture des mines de charbons

3- NOT ENOUGH FOR RETIREMENT:

click on: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B27heazt3JOOOUwtQjlfUlVCMmM/view?usp=sharing

Retirement	Source	Date
Audio 26 – Not Enough For Retirement	Globalnews.ca	28 January 2014
Notes de vocabulaire	Autres mots contenus dans le script
golden years : l’âge d’or de la retraite tough slog : pénible knit : tricoter CPP : Canada Pension Plan, système de versement de retraite canadien	Toronto Mike Drolet (journalist) Patricia Visser Clark Jones

4- WAGES DEMANDS ACROSS THE USA:

click on : https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B27heazt3JOOQS1PNHlxM2M2RU0/view?usp=sharing

Working Conditions	Source	Date
Audio 31–Wages Demands Across The USA	RT America	5 December 2013
Notes de vocabulaire	Autres mots contenus dans le script
spatulas : spatules picket signs : pancartes walk off : quitter retaliation : représailles	Marina Portnaya (journalist) Seatac, Washington Fast Food Forward

5-  EX-AMAZON WORKERS TALK OF HORRIBLE CONDITIONS:

click on: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B27heazt3JOONHdiTjc4a190ODA/view?usp=sharing

WORKING CONDITIONS	Source	Date
Audio 44 – Ex-Amazon workers talk of horrible conditions	Channel 4 News	1 August 2013
Notes de vocabulaire	Autres mots contenus dans le script
horrendous = horrible exhausting: exténuant warehouse: entrepôt	Midlands Business Correspondent Siobhan Kennedy Rugeley (Midlands)