Ghostrider,
If you are under an actual letter of layoff (they'd send it to you via Certified Mail) then call in and have them place you on the list for dock /city work. Under our contract, once you are on an official letter of layoff, you have the option to work either the dock or city. They use a great number of casual workers. But, they have to work you before any casuals or someone junior to you. I know they just hired a number of new dock workers within the last 2-3 weeks. Most of them were placed on the 4pm to midnight shift. They would be junior to you. You would end up bumping one of them to something else.