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US West Coast Ports Busy, Struggling With Backlog

Most West Coast U.S. ports have been busy since Friday, when negotiators reached a tentative settlement in a nine-month labor dispute and work slowdown. Both sides say with the cargo moving again, they can focus on long-term problems.

Dozens of ships have been docked or waiting offshore at 29 West Coast ports, and port officials say it will take months to process all the cargo. Most dockworkers have returned to work, but must still vote on the tentative five-year contract.

U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez had increased pressure as both sides talked in San Francisco, but negotiations were not easy, says Craig Merrilees of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.

“You know, there are a lot of tough issues in this process that lasted over nine months, and some of them are the kinds of issues that are affecting all workers," he said. "That includes the outsourcing of good jobs.”

Workers says clerical jobs at the port have been moving to other states and other countries. They are also worried about increasing automation of the port facilities, reducing the need for workers.

Those who move goods into and out of the country include San Francisco coffee company, Ritual Coffee Roasters, where a worker scoops coffee beans ready for roasting.

“We are reliant on constant arrivals of coffee in order to have a fresh supply,” said company founder Eileen Rinaldi.

Others who rely on the ports -- small breweries that use imported hops to brew their beer.

Farmers, who need to ship their perishable citrus -- and a California children's clothing company that has seen its products, which are manufactured in China, sitting in cargo ships in Oakland harbor.

The cargo is moving again, but long-term problems at the ports must be addressed, said transportation analyst Tom O'Brien of California State University, Long Beach.

“The fact that we have larger ships coming now, that is creating peak demand for labor and for equipment is putting a lot of pressure on our infrastructure, not only the ports, but the road network, rail capacity, distribution center and warehousing,” he said.

O'Brien said it all needs to be ramped up to meet increasing trade needs in the future.

詞匯解析

automatic

難度：3星常用詞匯，屬常用6000詞

英漢解釋

adj.自動(dòng)的；無意識(shí)的；必然的

n.自動(dòng)裝置；半自動(dòng)武器

參考例句

用作形容詞 (adj.)

This heating system has an automatic temperature control.

這個(gè)暖氣系統(tǒng)有自動(dòng)化的溫度調(diào)節(jié)系統(tǒng)。

用作名詞 (n.)

Cranking-motor controls have varied from a simple foot-operated pedal to automatic devices that close the cranking-motor circuit when the accelerator pedal is depressed.

控制起動(dòng)電機(jī)的方式已從一個(gè)簡單的腳踏板改為壓下加速踏板即可自動(dòng)接通起動(dòng)電機(jī)電路的自動(dòng)裝置。

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proposal

難度：4星核心詞匯，屬常用3000詞

英漢解釋

n.求婚；建議；提議

參考例句

用作名詞 (n.)

The manager made a proposal for uniting the two companies.

經(jīng)理提出了將兩家公司聯(lián)合起來的建議。

Various proposals were put forward by the employees for increasing sales.

員工們擺出了各種提高銷售額的提議。

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compromise

難度：4星核心詞匯，屬常用3000詞

英漢解釋

n.妥協(xié)；折衷；折衷案；和解

vt.妥協(xié)處理；危害

vi.妥協(xié)，和解；讓步

參考例句

用作名詞 (n.)

The agreement is a compromise, not a sell-out.

這個(gè)協(xié)議是雙方妥協(xié)的產(chǎn)物而不是一方讓步。

用作及物動(dòng)詞 (vt.)

Build the disorder that does not have the market to compromise project quality forthrightly.

建沒市場的混亂直接地危害工程質(zhì)量。

用作不及物動(dòng)詞 (vi.)

The agreement is a compromise, not a sell-out.

這個(gè)協(xié)議是雙方妥協(xié)的產(chǎn)物而不是一方讓步。

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explosive

難度：3星常用詞匯，屬常用6000詞

英漢解釋

adj.爆炸(性)的；引發(fā)爭論的；大聲的

n.炸藥

參考例句

用作形容詞 (adj.)

The most impressive volcanic phenomena are explosive eruptions.

最令人難忘的火山現(xiàn)象是爆炸噴發(fā)。

用作名詞 (n.)

I warn you that the explosive can kill thousands of people.

我警告你,這種炸藥可以殺死成千上萬個(gè)人。

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Internet

難度：4星核心詞匯，屬常用3000詞

英漢解釋

n.因特網(wǎng)

參考例句

用作名詞 (n.)

Internet plays a very important role in modern life.

互聯(lián)網(wǎng)在現(xiàn)代生活中發(fā)揮非常重要的作用。

You can obtain this information on the Internet.

你可以從因特網(wǎng)上獲得這一信息。

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obvious

難度：4星核心詞匯，屬常用3000詞

英漢解釋

adj.明顯的；顯然的

參考例句

用作形容詞 (adj.)

It is obvious that she is very clever.

很明顯，她挺聰明。

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unexpected

難度：3星常用詞匯，屬常用6000詞

英漢解釋

adj.想不到的；意外的

參考例句

用作形容詞 (adj.)

Because of something unexpected, I wonder if I can change my appointment from Tuesday to Friday.

由于想不到的原因，我不知道是否可以把約會(huì)時(shí)間由星期二改到星期五。

The unexpected defeat came as a thunderbolt.

這意外的失敗猶如晴天霹靂。

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