Following a labour dispute in September 1995, several hundred Liverpool dockers were dismissed for refusing to cross a picket line. More than a year later, the dockworkers are still gathered at the entrance to the port of Liverpool in their continuing struggle for reinstatement. Their work is now being done by non-union casual labour.

The background to the dispute is described by some of the participants: a small incident about overtime terms escalated into a major struggle between workers and employers. One docker speaks about the importance of the 'rate for the job' which is now being undercut by stevedore employment agencies. Another tells of the importance of the dispute not only to the dockers themselves but to the future of their children, whose working conditions are also at stake.

Dockers describe how, until 1967, dockworkers were hired by the day at the whim of the foremen - in the 'bad old days' (the same system is seen in the classic American film On the Waterfront) . Retired dockers speak about this "disgraceful, obnoxious" system.

Archive footage and commentary illustrate how this casual employment system ended in 1967 after an all-out strike, and the National Dock Labour Scheme was established. Under the scheme, work was shared on a rota system and dockers were paid even if there were no ships to unload albeit at a lower rate. This scheme was abolished by the Thatcher government in 1989 and, after early protest strikes around the country had crumbled, only Liverpool stood firm, until persuaded to return to work by leading officials of the Transport and General Workers' Union. The employers gave assurances that there would be no return to casualisation. However, small stevedore companies partly owned by Mersey Docks and Harbour Company were soon set up to supply casual labour to work in the docks.

In September 1995 there was a local dispute about overtime terms at one of the small companies supplying staff to the docks. The managing director sacked the five workers concerned and the situation escalated until several hundred staff were sacked for refusing to work until their colleagues were reinstated.

One year on, the dockers are falling into hardship. At an international delegates' meeting union representatives from around the world offer their support. One declares that "If you win, every place in the world is going to win". However, the leaders of the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) say that legislation prevents them from taking much action. One docker declares "If the law's wrong we have to fight it," and is proud of not crossing a picket line.

The dockworkers and their supporters group, Women of the Waterfront (WoW), go to the Trades Union Congress (TUC) conference at Blackpool. WoW spokeswoman Doreen McNally speaks to Bill Morris, General Secretary of the TGWU. He speaks to the dockers at a closed meeting, after which dockers recount their disappointment at the lack of union support. They feel that the law is being used as "a flimsy excuse."

There is an international day of action on 30 September, during which dockers around the world take action to support the Liverpool dockers. Donations and letters of support are received at a meeting in Liverpool.

Women talk together about their continued struggle and their attempts to approach the wives of the directors of the Port company, who decline to get involved - to the amazement of the wives of the dockers, who are very much engaged with their husbands' working lives.

There is a march to support the dockers with many banners of solidarity including the slogan "Who's side are you on Tony Blair?" The situation remains unresolved at the close of the programme.