australian television information archive

Greg's War

Part 1
May 13, 2007 (ABC)
Written by Sue Smith
Directed by Ray Quint

In November 1997, the National Secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), John Coombs, receives a mysterious phone call warning him of a top secret plan to remove union members from the waterfront. John calls upon Greg Combet , Assistant Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) for support. Suspecting the government is somehow involved, they devise a three-pronged strategy to fight back. The union wins round one!

Then, out of the blue, the wharfies are locked out of Patrick Stevedores' berths at Melbourne's Webb Dock. With John in Sydney, Greg must try to salvage the situation. It will be a long, hard fight ahead.

Josh's War

Part 2
May 13, 2007
Written by Sue Smith
Directed by Ray Quint

Young up-and-coming lawyer Josh Bornstein is outraged by the events taking place on the docks in Melbourne and offers his services pro-bono to Greg Combet and the union movement. Amazed to discover Greg hasn't finalised any sort of legal strategy yet, Josh urges a radical new approach - don't wait to be attacked. Attack first. Take the company and possibly even the government to court for conspiracy. It's visionary and scary!

Josh and the team engage in a race against time to try to forestall what they know is now imminent - the mass sacking of Patrick's entire unionised workforce. But literally hours before they're due in court, the event they've all been dreading takes place. In the dead of night, three days before Easter, security guards with batons and dogs march MUA members off the Patrick docks around the country. Before it is over, the entire country will be divided.

Sean's War

Part 3
May 14, 2007
Written by Sue Smith
Directed by Ray Quint

Dock worker Sean McSwain is elected as the State Representative for the MUA, just as scab labour begins working on Berth 5 at Patrick's Webb Dock in Melbourne. It becomes his responsibility to run the protest at the Melbourne docks. It is a mission that will test everything he has as an organiser, a mate, and a man.

This forces Sean directly up against Tony Tully, a second-generation wharfie, who is used to the Union's old ways of fighting. Angry at the no-violence rule, he and his son Brendan are not the only ones who believe the Union's gone soft. But secretly, Tony is scared of the changes looming. Fear makes him lash outŠ with dire consequences.

Chris's War

Part 4
May 14, 2007
Written by Sue Smith
Directed by Ray Quint

Chris Corrigan is the Managing Director of Patrick Stevedores. He pits his will, strength and determination against the full resources of the labour movement, the media, the banks and, increasingly, the public, as Australian sentiment swings in behind the Union.

The Federal Court brings down its finding in favour of the Union: Patrick Stevedores must reinstate its sacked workers as soon as possible. Corrigan finds himself cornered - his wife Valerie and family are receiving obscene and threatening phone calls; he is forced to stay under constant security surveillance; to travel only in the security of a laundry van. He appeals against the decision.

The full bench of the Federal Court hears the appeal. For the first time in history, the decision of the Court is televised live around the country, as Justice Wilcox announces in favour of the Union. Corrigan appeals, this time to the highest court in the land. With everything hanging on this outcome, the High Court of Australia rules for the Union. Corrigan has no choice but to attempt to reach a negotiated settlement with the Union.

The MUA workers return triumphantly to work. In the eyes of the public, the story is all over. But out of the media glare, Corrigan, Coombs, Combet and their teams fight to the death over the terms of the settlement. Life on the docks will be forever changed.