This study is available via the UK Data Service Qualibank, an online tool for browsing, searching and citing the content of selected qualitative data collections held at the UK Data Service. This research explores the complexities of the 1972 Blacking campaign and unofficial strikes, in which unofficial organisations were able to act independently of union officials and defy government and courts for several months. The research was concerned with the ideas and activities of shop stewards and other trade union activists in the dock industry and their relations with official trade unions, employers, Government and political organisations, especially the Communist Party. The container depots and unregistered ports was used as a focus to give an account of the organisation and policy of dockworkers’ national, unofficial shop stewards movement. This research used semi-structured interviews with trade union officials, shop stewards and other active participants in unofficial activities, as well as employers. It examined the nature of the major ports (London, Liverpool, Hull and Southampton) and the differences between the economic and political structure. Ports; docks; dockers; labour and employment; trade unions; trade union officials; labour relations; labour conflict; labour disputes; strikes; picketing; the Communist Party - Great Britain.