Little is written in the mainstream media about production and infrastructure; they are invisibles. Even less is written about working lives, conditions, pay, how people might try to exist on their pay, the anxieties, pressure and stress of work. Much is written about the might of technology, globalisation and post-industrialism.

So it’s really interesting when - to use a word so liked by futurologists - all those worlds converge. That’s exactly what’s happening in Grangemouth where a proposed 2 day strike of 1200 workers is going to shut down an oil refinery for at least one month (and North Sea oil production), and could lead to petrol shortages. This is one of only nine refineries in the UK. If each has around 1000 staff then that’s a total workforce of around 10,000 people.

If all this is true, it’s an extraordinary glimpse of the power of the workers in the new information, integrated and globalised world.