Casuals

Another sculpture on Salford Quays. This one represents the casual dock workers who were employed on a day by day basis.  It was created by a group of designers from Cheshire who worked with former employees to capture a taste of what the docks were like.

Dockers had to belong to a union in order to be employed and had to turn up daily and compete with others for limited jobs. They were chosen for their strength and speed and if they were taken on, would take home a wage at the end of the day. Those who failed to make the grade went home without money, and their families often went without food and heating as a result.

The sculptures represent union cards and feature pictures of some of the people who earned their living on the docks and helped to design the piece.