進入英語學習論壇下載音頻 去聽寫專區一展身手

Thousands of workers from an electronics factory in the southern economic hub of Shenzhen went back to work on Monday after striking for higher pay on Sunday, local authorities said.

"Some clashes occurred between workers and security staff on Sunday, but the situation went back to normal today," an official with the Dalang street administrative office, where the factory is located, told China Daily on Monday.

He did not disclose how many workers went on strike on Sunday.

However, a video clip released online showed thousands of workers from the Shenzhen factory of the Taiwan-based Merry Electronics crowding a main street nearby and blocking traffic.

It has more than 10,000 workers, sources with the factory said.

Striking workers reportedly said they have to do extra shifts on weekends, for which they are not paid.

They said the company had earlier promised their monthly salaries would be raised to 1,050 yuan ($154) from the current 900 yuan in April, but the employer has yet to fulfill the promise.

The workers were asking for a 300-yuan raise per month and at least one day off work every week.

The executive staff of the company then held negotiations with the workers, without agreeing to the workers' requirement, but promised they would raise the salaries to 1,050 yuan by July.

An official with the Dalang street administrative office said the workers voiced the demand after hearing that workers at the suicide-plagued Foxconn Group in Shenzhen got a massive raise.

He said the office will continue to mediate between the workers and the company to look for consensus.

Questions:

1. What was the average wage per worker at Merry Electronics?

2. Why were the workers striking?

3. What did they ask for?

Answers:

1. 900 yuan a month.

2. Working extra shifts on weekends without pay.

3. 300 yuan a month raise and one day off a week.

去聽寫專區一展身手

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）

Todd Balazovic is a reporter for the Metro Section of China Daily. Born in Mineapolis Minnesota in the US, he graduated from Central Michigan University and has worked for the China daily for one year.