A picket line is a form of protest where people, called pickets or picketers, gather outside a place of work or location where an event is taking place, such as a business or organization, to put pressure on the party targeted to meet particular demands or cease operations. The picketers normally endeavor to be non-violent and can have a number of aims, but are generally to dissuade others from going in or to draw public attention to a cause. Picketing is a common tactic used by trade unions during strikes, who will try to prevent dissident members of the union, members of other unions, and non-unionized workers from working. Those who cross the picket line and work despite the strike are known pejoratively as scabs.

A picket line is the description given to those who gather outside or near the entrance of the workplace, including striking workers, workers locked out by their employer, and trade union representatives. The targets of a picket lines activities may be non-striking colleagues, substitute workers, or suppliers of the employer. You can lawfully join a picket line as long as the picketing is connected to a trade dispute which you are involved in, carried out at or near your own workplace, and carried out peacefully. If youre a worker on a picket line in dispute with your employer, you can peacefully try to persuade workers who arent affected to support you.

When negotiating a collective agreement, a union may find its members locked out or may find it has no other choice but to go on strike. A lockout occurs when an employer prevents employees from working by locking them out of the workplace. When we stand with other union members by refusing to cross their picket line, we help put added pressure on their employer. You have the right to refuse to cross a legal picket line without fear of discipline. When you respect another union’s legal picket line, it is as if you are on strike with your own union. If you cross another union’s picket line, you may lose pay or benefits.

In summary, a picket line is a form of protest where people gather outside a place of work or location where an event is taking place to put pressure on the party targeted to meet particular demands or cease operations. It is a common tactic used by trade unions during strikes, and those who cross the picket line and work despite the strike are known pejoratively as scabs.