My take on Paul's update of Goldwatch Blues is this.

Casualisation of the workforce is the bane of workers' lives, IMHO, especially young workers trying to get on in the world or even old biddies like me.

I've been desperately trying for over two years to find another job so that I wouldn't have to work 2 hours from home because of a sudden decision by management to move our unit away from our town and the majority of what little available work there is, is short-term temporary or casual.

I'm one of the lucky ones. I could look at retirement. The unlucky ones have major reasons for needing to continue to work in that town.

The managers were completely oblivious to the distress of the staff and all but impervious to any real solutions suggested by staff and the union, but all during this time there has been a verbal push by managers to make everyone say positive things about working there.

Brings to mind the movie called Brazil, a dark, dark fantasy of the future of work and society.

Helen