Background
Picketing is a labor action employed primarily during strikes. It involves positioning strikers outside their workplaces or the workplaces of affiliated entities. The main purpose of picketing is to inform other workers of the ongoing labor dispute and to attempt to persuade employees, suppliers, and customers not to cross the picket line.
Historical Context
Picketing as a tactic has a storied history intertwined with the labor movements of the 19th and 20th centuries. Originating during the industrial revolution, it evolved alongside the growing power and influence of labor unions. Notable instances of picketing have included both peaceful assemblies and instances of violence or mass intimidation, highlighting the tactic’s adaptability and contentious nature.
Definitions and Concepts
Picket Lines
A picket line is formed by workers on strike standing or walking outside their place of employment to garner support and prevent strikebreakers from entering.
Primary Picketing
Primary picketing occurs directly outside the workplace involved in a labor dispute.
Secondary Picketing
Secondary picketing involves protesters targeting premises other than their own workplace, typically affiliated firms or suppliers. This practice is generally restricted or outright prohibited in many jurisdictions, including the UK.
Major Analytical Frameworks
Labor Economics
In labor economics, picketing is viewed as a non-monetary bargaining tool that exerts social and public pressure on employers.
Industrial Relations
From an industrial relations perspective, picketing is a representation of collective action attempting to influence power dynamics between labor and management.
Comparative Analysis
In various jurisdictions, the legality and extent of picketing can differ significantly:
- United States: More lenient laws generally permit primary picketing but impose limits on secondary picketing.
- United Kingdom: Secondary picketing is prohibited, and strict limitations are placed on the number of picketers.
- Canada & Australia: Regulate picketing through a mix of provincial/state and federal laws.
Case Studies
- 1984-85 UK Miners’ Strike: Illustrates significant picketing with mass demonstrations and confrontations, informing modern UK legal constraints.
- 1937 Flint Sit-Down Strike: Became an essential event in U.S. labor history, where picketing was central to the strike’s success.
Suggested Books for Further Studies
- Strike! by Jeremy Brecher
- Labor Law and Policy in Practice by Kenneth Dau-Schmidt
- Union Power and American Democracy: The UAW and the Democratic Party, 1935-72 by Dudley W. Buffa
Related Terms with Definitions
- Strike: A work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work.
- Lockout: An action taken by employers to prevent employees from entering the workplace during a labor dispute.
- Collective Bargaining: The process by which unions and employers negotiate the conditions of employment.
- Trade Union: An organized association of workers formed to protect and advance their rights and interests.
