‘We want to get on with what we love’: what union activists are fighting for
This is a list of key vocabulary and expressions from the article in order of how useful they are. The student must choose 6 items from the list to study in the lesson.
To deal with (something/ someone)
To treat (someone well/ badly/ with respect)
To reject (something/ someone)
To consider ((doing) something)
To get involved (with/ in something)
To end up (somewhere/ (doing) something)
To get on with (doing) something
I’ve been employed by BT for 44 years
Light at the end of the tunnel
To batter (someone/ something)
To/ until/ till the bitter end
15 conversation-provoking questions related to the article.
1. What do you know about Bella Fashola?
2. What do you know about Joyce Stevenson?
3. What do you know about Trevor Chalkley?
4. ‘Workers go on strike all the time in my country.’ Is this true for you?
5. ‘I would love to do Joyce’s job and I think I’d be very good at it.’ Is this true for you?
6. ‘I’d hate to have Trevor’s job. I’d be an awful tour guide.’ Is this true for you?
7. ‘Just like Bella, I’m used to working in a very international workplace.’ Is this true for you?
8. ‘Everybody should be paid the same.’ Do you agree?
9. ‘The workers’ rights in my country are terrible.’ Is this true for you?
10. ‘I’m considering organising a union at my place of work and going on strike.’ Is this true for you?
11. ‘People from my native country who move to the UK are often exploited in the workplace.’ Is this true for you?
12. ‘I’d hate to be like Joyce and work in the same place for 44 years.’ Is this true for you?
13. ‘In my native country, we had a similar disaster to the Grenfell disaster that Joyce mentioned.’ Is this true for you?
14. ‘Museums in the UK should charge an entry fee. If they did this, they would be able to pay people like Trevor properly.’ Do you agree?
15. ‘I’m a very messy person, that’s why I could never do Bella’s job.’ Is this true for you?