VW Workers Boo Boss Over Job Cuts
Listen to the story
Oliver Blume is the boss of Volkswagen. He is a chief executive. Volkswagen is a big car company from Germany.
Blume spoke to thousands of workers at the company's headquarters. He told them the company needs big changes.
The workers did not like his words. They booed and whistled at him. This showed they were angry.
Blume said the changes are important for the future. The changes could mean job losses. Some factories could also close.
He asked the workers to pull together. This means to work as a team during a hard time.
Volkswagen has problems. Cars from China are strong competitors. The company also faces new tariffs from the US.
Tariffs are extra taxes on goods from other countries. They make cars more expensive to sell.
The company says a big reorganisation is needed. This means changing how the company works.
Many workers are worried about losing their jobs. This is why they booed the boss.
Vocabulary15 words
- chief executive
- the top boss of a company
- headquarters
- the main office of a company
- pull together
- to work as a team
- competitors
- other companies that sell the same thing
- tariffs
- extra money you pay to bring goods into a country
- reorganisation
- big changes in how a company works
- boo
- to shout in an angry way to show you don't like something
- whistle
- a loud sound made with your mouth to show anger
- job losses
- when people lose their jobs
- factory
- a big building where things are made
- workforce
- all the people who work at a company
- carmaker
- a company that makes cars
- protest
- showing you disagree with something
- vital
- very important
- struggle
- to have a hard time doing something
Quiz
Answer key
1. The chief executive of Volkswagen 2. They booed and whistled to show anger 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Oliver Blume is the boss of Volkswagen. He is a _____.
Blume spoke to thousands of workers at the company's _____.
The workers did not like his words. They _____ and whistled at him.
Blume said the changes are important for the _____.
The changes could mean job losses. Some _____ could also close.
He asked the workers to _____. This means to work as a team.
Cars from China are strong _____.
The company also faces new _____ from the US.
The company says a big _____ is needed.
Many workers are worried about losing their _____.
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