"I just turn the volume down on my phone, let them vent," said Alexis Crossley, 52, who started with Mountain Bell Telephone in 1980, was laid off after 22 years, and has mainly been doing temporary work since.
Temporary being the key word: inevitably, the march of time and exchange of currency has done its work.
The temporary halt has done little to subdue Holmes' stress.
Today Miguel, 48, still makes a living doing temporary construction work.
When he does get temporary work, Nasima said, he spends most of his pay on drugs.
While union ranks have been stagnating, temporary work has been growing by leaps and bounds.
He now has temporary work paying about 7 euros an hour.
Mr. Sonntag teaches electronics, and his wife has temporary work instructing children in bicycle safety.
Having a temporary work contract was also identified as a risk factor.
"The only work they have is only temporary work, or one or two days a week, and I can't afford to do that," Mr. Santiago said.
