The dispute was kicked off when Patrick Stevedores, a major waterfront operator, attempted to restructure its workforce by dismissing more than 1400 unionised dock workers and replacing them with non-union labour, including representatives from the Australian armed services, who were trained in the United Arab Emirates. The company, backed by the government of John Howard, argued productivity on the waterfront was too low and costs were too high.

However, the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) saw the move as an attack on workers’ rights and union representation and responded with widespread protests and legal challenges, framing the issue as a fight for job security and fair treatment.

The front pages depicted balaclava-wearing non-union labour, attack dogs, picket lines and legal battles.

Ultimately, the courts ruled in favour of the union, ordering the sacked workers be rehired.

The ABC has produced a six-part podcast revisiting the dispute, interviewing union figures, representatives from Patrick, some of the soldiers trained to work the docks, and even John Howard and his then-Transport Minister Peter Sharp, as well as future Labor government minister Greg Combet.

On the way, there are inside figures leaking details of the campaign to union officials, revelations of federal government support for strikebreakers and clandestine meetings in a theme pub on the Sunshine Coast.

Despite the upbeat delivery from the narrator Jan Fran, the podcast’s goes into deep detail and the diverse spread of interview subjects paints a vivid picture of a fight on the wharves that captivated a country.