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What is picketing?

Picketing is where workers involved in industrial action attend a workplace to increase support for their cause by communicating information or persuading others not to work or not to carry out a part of their contracts of employment. Industrial action takes place when workers refuse to carry out a part of their contracts of employment.

A picket line is the description given to those who gather outside or near the entrance of the workplace. These include striking workers, workers locked out by their employer and trade union representatives. The targets of a picket line's activities may be non-striking colleagues, substitute workers or suppliers of the employer.

If you're thinking of joining a picket line, you should ask your union for advice.

• Find out more about industrial action
• Read the Code of Practice on Picketing Opens new window
• In Northern Ireland you can obtain a copy of the Code of Practice on Picketing from the Department for Employment and Learning (DELNI) Opens new window

Civil law and picketing

You can lawfully join a picket line as long as the picketing is:

If any of the above doesn't apply, an employer may be able to sue you or your union for damages under civil law. If the employer threatens to take action against you, you should ask a solicitor for advice. Your union will have one that can act on your behalf.

Secondary picketing

If you're a worker on a picket line in dispute with your employer, you can peacefully try to persuade workers who aren't affected to support you. For example, you may try to persuade lorry drivers from a different employer not to deliver supplies. This also applies to trade union representatives lawfully present on a picket line.

However, it's unlawful to picket other companies' premises whose workers are not in dispute. For example, if you are on strike you should not go to your employer's customers' premises to encourage their workers not to handle your employers goods. Picketing of this kind is called 'secondary picketing'.

Picketing activities shouldn't interfere with workers not connected with a dispute who use the same entrance as those on strike. For example, if you work in an office block shared by different firms, you shouldn't try to picket workers from the other firms.

Criminal law and picketing

It's a criminal offence for pickets to:

There may be police present at a picket line. The police can take any measures they feel are necessary to ensure that picketing is peaceful and orderly.

Mass picketing

The chance of civil and criminal offences is higher when there is mass picketing. If there are 20 or more people on a picket line, the police can use special powers if its likely to cause serious public disorder or serious damage to property.

If the police are concerned that there's a threat to the safety of others, they can order those picketing to stop and may arrest those not complying. Its recommended that there should be no more than six pickets outside an entrance.

Crossing a picket line

You have the right to cross a picket line if you don't support the industrial action being taken. If you're a union member and you're disciplined by your union for crossing a picket line, you can complain to an Employment Tribunal (or Industrial Tribunal in Northern Ireland).

If you're being threatened by colleagues for crossing a picket line, you should report the behaviour to the police.

If you haven't been able to cross a picket line, you need to convince your employer that you did everything reasonably possible to do so. If your employer considers you didn't make every effort, they may decide that you have joined the industrial action. This means they don't have to pay you. Your trade union should be able to provide you with guidance on your legal obligations whilst picketing.

• Advice on resolving a problem at work
• Find out about Employment Tribunals
• Industrial Tribunals in Northern Ireland - find out more Opens new window

Where to get help

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) offers free, confidential and impartial advice on all employment rights issues. You can call the Acas helpline on 08457 47 47 47 from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm Monday to Friday.

• Acas Opens new window

The Labour Relations Agency (LRA) offers free, confidential and impartial advice on all employment rights issues for residents of Northern Ireland. You can contact the LRA on 028 9032 1442 from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday.

• Labour Relations Agency Opens new window

Your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) can provide free and impartial advice. You can find your local CAB office in the phone book or online.

• Find your local Citizens Advice Bureau Opens new window

If you are a member of a trade union you can get help, advice and support from them

• More about trade unions

More useful links

• Detailed guidance on trade unions and collective rights from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) Opens new window
• Read the Code of Practice on Picketing Opens new window
• Read more about trade unions from the TUC Opens new window
• Advice on industrial disputes from Business Link Opens new window
• Advice on industrial disputes in Northern Ireland from nibusinessinfo Opens new window