Examining the real world of work, the author of this humorous study considers the never-ending struggle for respect and autonomy, the sheer tedium and the unexpected dangers. Reg Theriault was for 30 years a docker on the San Francisco waterfront, and this book is a personal record of a tough and demanding life. A sharp observer of the workplace, Theriault offers a lively defence of the working class's right to dignity and credit for doing dirty jobs.