Picket Lines

[crazytaxifife]

Hi, I am new to this site so not sure if I am posting this in the right place but here is hoping someone out there can answer some questions for me.

I am postie and attended the picket line this morning for my office. As I travelled from another town to the picket line, I was asked, as was another few, by the CWU Rep if we wanted to go and support colleagues in the town that I live in. Which I did, I have now since spoken to a friend who is a manager and he has informed me that what I have done today is illegal and that my name has passed on to managers. I am wondering what at worst to expect when I get to work on Monday. Sorry if this sounds a bit confusing but hopefully someone will be able to keep me right. Thanks

[oneweepostiee]

All pickets should be aware of the law and understand that picketing must be peaceful and lawful. Members should only picket at or near your place of
work. Official pickets should wear some form of identification (i.e. arm band).
check this link
http://www.cwuessex.org/downloads/06_25 ... elines.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[tailfly12]

The manager is a scare monger.

[crazytaxifife]

I hope so. Never thought that there would be laws on picketing. Especially when it was my union rep that asked me to go elsewhere. Suppose just have to wait and see if anything gets said on Monday.

[POSTMAN]

crazytaxifife I may be wrong here but i think you have just become a 'flying picket' which is illegal,only branch officers can go to other offices picket lines.

Can someone clarify?

[chunk]

a lot of of people are reserves who maybe split there time between two or more offices.
would you suggest they can only picket their offical place of work?
the reality is often more complicated.

[BELIAL]

Your manager is talking crap as usual .There are three exceptions to the rules on picketing your usual place of work and practicality is one of them. The example used in the legislation is one of a mobile worker but it applies to all . Brothermagrew may be kind enough to post the relevant employment law link, we done this one a week ago

[crazytaxifife]

I am a reserve, often getting sent to other offices after taking half an hour to get into my official work place. I was just having a chat with colleagues, not waving banners or shouting my mouth off.

[fishtank]

crazytaxifife I may be wrong here but i think you have just become a 'flying picket' which is illegal,only branch officers can go to other offices picket lines.

Can someone clarify?

Secondary picketing - picketing at a workplace or premises where you do not work - does not have the same civil law protection, but is not a criminal offence. It is worth remembering that the police do not have any enhanced powers over secondary pickets and it is not their job to enforce the civil law on picketing, even if an injunction is in force.

Civil law=Unlawful
Criminal Law=illegal

[Bazman]

Its not illegal.

I did this on saturday, I often get sent to other offices and because public transport isn't exactly available at 5:00 in the morning on a saturday, I went to the office in my hometown (Where I work often and know everyone) for an hour and a half until a bus showed up.

Anyway a cluster manager showed up and informed me and another colleague from my usual place of work that we were secondary picketing which was illegal. Except secondary picketing is when you picket an office that isn't your own office and that office is NOT taking strike action.

I know i'm in the clear because I explained to my CWU rep the issue and he checked with his higher-up's and came back saying that it was ok to do that the day before I went to this particular picket.

[Himaggen]

Before the strikes began we were provided with CWU 'picketing guidelines' document dated 19.10.09, which I'm sure must be available to download somewhere on their site.

This is what is says:
Attendance for the purpose of picketing may only:

• Be carried out by a person attending at or near his own place of work
• A trade union official (or representative) in addition to attending at or near his own place of work, may also attend at or near the place of work of a member of her/his trade union whom he is accompanying on the picket line and whom he represents.

More information here

Code of Practice: Picketing (.pdf)

<Edit />
I found the document on the CWU site inside this download

[Martin Walsh]

As an ordinary member then you should only picket the office you work in. However as a citzen you are entitle to vist any picket line as they are not on Royal Mail Premises ,just not request to prevent anyone entering.

We have had some indivduals in the past discplined for secondary picketing but in the main this was in unofficial disputes and unless there was trouble on the picket line then I cant see any think happening to you.

[tomanysteps]

a few of us pickets were going to travel not far to a scab office and was told only official cwu reps could attend as we would become flying pickets, which ive been told is illegal. makes you laugh as bosses drive out to pick up strike breakers to work from other offices we`ve never seen before. why is it one rule for them and one for us ?

[fishtank]

a few of us pickets were going to travel not far to a scab office and was told only official cwu reps could attend as we would become flying pickets, which ive been told is illegal. makes you laugh as bosses drive out to pick up strike breakers to work from other offices we`ve never seen before. why is it one rule for them and one for us ?

It's not one rule for them and one for us.
The Union don't want secondary picketing because any civil lawsuits or injunctions
are taken out against them and this can be financially draining but i repeat

Secondary picketing - picketing at a workplace or premises where you do not work - does not have the same civil law protection, but is not a criminal offence. It is worth remembering that the police do not have any enhanced powers over secondary pickets and it is not their job to enforce the civil law on picketing, even if an injunction is in force.