The UK is on Strike!

The Chewsday Chats: Learn British English

Many people are on strike across the UK right now. This ranges from workers at airlines, to train drivers. Is this understandable or simply selfish? We hear what James and the general public think about this. In Part 2 we test your listening skills with a quiz before finishing with the crowd-pleaser Idiom of the Week !
What do you think about today's topic of striking? What do you think about the new format of the pod? Tell us at [e-mail]
Part One

Strike (noun): a refusal to work organized by a body of employees as a form of protest, typically in an attempt to gain a concession or concessions from their employer.
Disruption (noun): a situation in which it is difficult for something to continue in the normal way.
Disrupt (verb) - see above.
To down tools (idiom): to stop working, usually to strike
Backlash (noun): a strong negative reaction by a large number of people, especially to a social or political development.
Push against (something) (phrasal verb): To put constant forceful pressure on someone or something.
Commuter (noun): a person who travels for work.
On board (with something) (Phrasal verb): In agreement with; ready or willing to participate
Cost of living (phrase): the cost of everyday life.
Impact (verb):to affect something.
Drive (someone) to do something (verb): to force people to do something.
Side closer (with someone/something): to agree or support one person or thing more.
Knock-on effect (noun): something (such as a process, action, or event) that causes other things to happen.
Domino effect (noun): the situation in which one event causes a series of related events, one following another.
Selfless (adj): unselfish
Part Two
Rubbish (informal, British): bad

Quiz:
1. True. Following a disagreement with British Airways, staff at Heathrow voted in favour of a strike.
2. False. Their salaries were cut at the height of the pandemic.
3. False. The strike is set to take place during the summer holidays.
4. True. Unions have pointed out that the bonus offered is one-off payment for this year only.
5. Not given. We are only told that the company owns British Airways.
Part Three
Strike whilst the iron is hot (idiom): take advantage of an opportunity whist it exists (do not wait).
"There are lots of fish in the river today! Let's strike whilst the iron is hot!"
Perpetually (adverb): constantly
Petrichor (noun): a pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather.
Chock-a-block (informal, British, adj): crammed full of people or things.