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In Law, what is Picketing?

By Felicia Dye
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 12,048
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Picketing is a tactic that is used to express dissatisfaction. This form of protest generally involves a group, although it is technically possible for one person to picket. Protesters will often form a picket line to disrupt traffic into or out of a facility, and picketers may carry signs or shout slogans to attract attention. Whether or not this action is legal depends on the location and the compliance with laws that may regulate it.

People picket when they want to communicate a message or influence a decision. This tactic usually involves a group of picketers congregating outside of a place about which they have complaints. They may also congregate outside of a place where there are people who have the authority to make decisions regarding their concerns, such as a legislator's office.

Picketing generally involves an aim to attract attention or to win support of people who do not have the authority to address the picketers' concerns, but who may have an impact on the outcome of the protest. This includes co-workers, passers by, and loyal customers. Picketing is often associated with the dissatisfaction of labor groups, but the tactic is employed in numerous other instances.

In many cases, picketers try to discourage others from using facilities and supporting businesses. They also encourage people to oppose or discontinue certain practices. For example, anti-abortion groups may be found outside of abortion clinics hoping that their presence will dissuade people from entering to seek abortions. In other situations, picketers might assemble outside of a business that is accused of having discriminatory practices against a certain ethnic group.

In many democratic societies, picketing is legal as long as it does not violate certain rules. In the United States, for example, picketing is often protected by the right to assemble, freedom of speech, and the right to protest. Permits are often required for such a protest to be legal, however. Furthermore, certain actions such as blocking highways, walkways, or entrances may be considered illegal.

Although pickets may be permitted, individuals who participate in them or groups that organize them may be held liable for harm that is caused as a result of the activities. Harm can refer to the physical injury of individuals, property damage, or revenue losses. Although trade unions are renowned for organizing pickets, they are often deemed illegal or unauthorized, and as a result the unions may be sued and required to pay penalties.

For example, in the United Kingdom, trade unions can be sued on the grounds that they caused a breach of contracts. It has been successfully argued that employment involves contracts for employees to engage in certain duties at certain times. A picket can result in people not fulfilling their obligations, or breaching their contracts. As a result, their employers suffer harm.

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Discussion Comments
By Cageybird — On Dec 22, 2014

I have to say that when I visit a store with a picket line in front of it, it does make me think twice about giving it my business. I may not agree with the issues of the picketers, but I have to give them some credit for being willing to walk on the picket line and take a real stance.

I don't, however, believe in picketing funerals just to promote a controversial cause. I attended a military funeral a few months ago and the Westboro Baptist Church had a picket line about 500 yards away. They weren't close enough to block access to the funeral home, and a local motorcycle club stood in a line to block out their signs. I only saw them for a few seconds as the funeral procession left for the cemetery.

By Buster29 — On Dec 22, 2014

One of my college friends was hired to walk a picket line in front of a local unionized grocery store. He wasn't actually a union member or an employee, but the union reps wanted to have a large number of participants on the picket line.

He told me later that it was a pretty good job for a few hours, but then people started confronting him over the reasons for the protest. He had no idea what the actual issues were, and he was instructed not to get into any heated discussion while marching on the line. He was just supposed to hold up a sign and stay out of the way of shoppers.

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