Picketing

The presence at an employer's business of one or more employees and/or other persons who are publicizing a labor dispute, influencing employees or customers to withhold their work or business, respectively, or showing a union's desire to represent employees; picketing is usually accompanied by patrolling with signs.

Cross-references

Labor Law; Labor Union.

picketing

n. standing or parading near a business or government office usually with signs of protest or claims in labor disputes or public policy controversies (peace marches to pro- or anti-abortion advocates). Picketing is constitutionally guaranteed as free speech, but in some cases it may be limited by court order to prevent physical combat, blocking of entrances or threats to the public safety.

picketing

from the French for ‘pike’, this describes the practice of placing strikers between the worker and his place of work to stop him coming off strike or to encourage him to go on strike. Almost a century of oscillating legislation controls the practice in the UK. Generally, it is permitted if carried out peacefully and with a view to communicating information or persuading persons and is carried out at a person's own place of work. This latter phrase prevents picketing outside the target's garden and restrained the flying picket, someone who would go anywhere to help out workers in a strike even though he himself might not have any dispute with the target. Secondary picketing, where suppliers of the target become themselves targets, is prohibited. While the law generally does not prohibit peaceful picketing, it has not created a right to picket; a picket standing in front of a lorry and obstructing it peacefully to communicate with the driver commits the offence of obstruction. Picketing also must be in accordance with the GOLDEN FORMULAE. Many pickets are not illegal simply for that reason. A code of practice issued by the Secretary of State indicates that there should be no more than six pickets at any entrance or exit and that frequently fewer will be appropriate. Public Order powers may be engaged if more than 20 persons are present.

Collins Dictionary of Law © W.J. Stewart, 2006

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References in periodicals archive

Participants of the picket intend to criticize the UK government's slack performance in preparing the UK's withdrawal from the European Union and to express concerns about the implications of a no-deal Brexit for the approximately 60,000 Latvian nationals residing in the UK, as their future remains unclear in this situation.

Picket against suspension of British parliament planned also in Latvia

Only one official can take a meal at a time while other officials perform their duties at a picket, they said.

SOP prepared to protect police officials deployed at pickets

He said more deployments and setting up of such mini camps at Nsekesa, Dagwi and Nkhwanya picket points would be completed by the end of March next year.

Picketing along the border help control diseases

According to sources, an incident of theft occurred in a police picket situated in Bani Gala, where culprits entered in a police picket and stayed there for several hours and looted all the belongings of the police personnel, also stole the Rs35000 and 30 bore pistol of Gul Mahaz, a police personnel.

Theft incident in a police picket is an eye opener for tall claimants

Now he could focus his attention on Picket and learning all he could about the buck before the '17 season.

NIGHT RIDER: THIS DIY BOWHUNTER TURNED KANSAS FARM LABOR INTO THE NOCTURNAL BUCK OF A LIFETIME

The picket, staged by contractual workers and activists, was dispersed on June 14 by the police when the court sheriff stopped the protesters from blocking the NutriAsia factory gates.

Bulacan workers resume picket

Guro said LTFRB will have buses on standby to pick up stranded passengers should the picket escalate into a full-blown strike.He warned transport operators that they would be fined P5,000 for abandonment of service if they do not ferry commuters on Wednesday.

LTFRB 10 ready for transport picket

One lad had a sandwich in his hand when he helped up another picket from the floor.

The pickets came back with busted skulls

Pilots from the Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association (SWAPA) have joined mechanics from Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) Local 11 in support of their informational picket near Love Field Airport in Dallas, the company said.

Southwest Airlines pilots join mechanics for informational picket

Mr Brown happened to be passing but stopped the car and stood with the workers on the picket line where they shared a few laughs.

Comic joins picket line protest