BRANCH GUIDELINES ON PICKETING
These guidelines are issued to branches in accordance with the
Government's Code of Practice on Picketing.
The purpose of picketing is to peacefully obtain and communicate
information and persuade members to take part in the strike and
not to go to work
- There should be no more than six pickets on at any entrance
to, or exits from, a workplace.
- Picketing is carried out in flirtherance of official industrial
action and carried out by a person attending at or near his
or her own place of work. (That is the workplace you report
to on a daily basis. In the case of members who are mobile and
do not report to a fixed workplace, then the administrative
centre is deemed to be your place of work.)
- Each picket line should appoint an organiser, whose function
it is to -
- * ensure that pickets are wearing arm-bands;
* there is an official placard on display;
* liaise with the branch co-ordinators;
* liaise with the police, if required.
- Any member, work colleague or member of the public who approaches
the picket line should be spoken to, given a leaflet and the
reason for the strike explained to them in a polite and courteous
manner.
- Those workers, including members, who wish to cross the picket
line should be asked not to undertake any other duties or responsibilities
other than their own.
- Only those members receiving a ballot paper are asked to take
strike action. Non members, members of other trade unions, chief
officials, craft workers and workers of other employers are
not included in the strike action. (The other local authority
trade unions have been notified of the strike.)
- There is no legal "right to picket" as such, but
peaceful picketing has long been recognised to be a lawful activity.
The picket does not have the power, under the law to require
people to stop, or compel them to listen or to do what the picket
asks them to do. A person who decides to cross a picket line
must be allowed to do so.
- Always take the opportunity to talk to members of the general
public and explain the reasons for the industrial action.
- If anyone is arrested by the police, please phone your branch
office immediately.
|
