With a Master Mariner's certificate Brian Wood came ashore to work for the Waterfront Industry Commission, later becoming its general manager. On a daily basis he experienced the often conflicting interests of employers, unions and shippers that are at the heart of this book.

Introduction; Earlier publications; Early days and government interest; Government intervention; The Waterfront Control Commission; Cooperative contracting introduced as first step to worker control; Setbacks and some progress trying to advance from cooperative contracts to worker control; Regulation of dock work overseas, but not for worker control; Government keen for the commission to advance cooperative contracts further; Post war, Waterfront Industry Commission; A new Government, the 1951 Stoppage and the Commission settled as an administrative body; Commission again made representative despite Government having come close to creating an employer authority; Illustrations; More technical advances in cargo handling and local partnership initiatives; Conclusion; Epilogue; Bibliography; Index