Anti-Protest Law, could it be applied to picket lines?

[manchesterpunk]

https://www.bigissue.com/news/activism/ ... d-protest/

Has the Union looked into the implications of the new anti-protest laws and if they could be used against our members in the event of a strike?

[Skuse]

I dont think we will be glueing ourselves to the roads like the eco zealots

[fluxburner]

If someone complains that it is too noisy then potentially yes. Better to E-mail our SS Obergruppenfuhrer Pritti Patel for a definitive answer though.

[manchesterpunk]

I dont think we will be glueing ourselves to the roads like the eco zealots

I hope the public show us more support than the support you’re giving.

Oh yeah, those guys are preventing a possible ambulance to pass, while we’ll be merely delaying life impacting/saving hospital appointments.

I guess you think protests should only happen when you want a pay rise?

[manchesterpunk]

If someone complains that it is too noisy then potentially yes. Better to E-mail our SS Obergruppenfuhrer Pritti Patel for a definitive answer though.

The wording about the threshold as to when it becomes a nuisance seems to be particularly vague. Like, if we’re outside our DO which is in a residential area. If we’re gathering at 6am, blocking a path/pavement etc… could all potentially trigger the law.

The wording of the legislation seems to leave everything up to the interpretation of the local police.

We’ve lost the ability to strike/protest before, wasn’t the last one blocked in court?, I’d hate to see us being unable to stand on the picket line because of these new protest laws.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Actually, the wording is similar, if not exactly the same as the picketing guidelines that were in force before this new legislation.

https://www.gov.uk/industrial-action-st ... 20arrested.

Picketing and the law
It’s a criminal offence for pickets to:

use threatening or abusive behaviour to people walking past or crossing the picket line
block people or vehicles trying to get into the workplace which is on strike (called ‘causing an obstruction by police)
carry weapons
damage property
cause or threaten to cause a ‘breach of the peace
try to block roads near the picket line (called ‘causing an obstruction to the public highway’)
try to stop the police who are outside the workplace from doing their job

[NWpostie]

One key difference between the two, eco nutters didn't have a legal ballot or a genuine grievance just imposing their agenda on others while ironically using cars, diesel vans and buses to their protest location.

The other is done through a legal ballot recognised and certified a voting organisation for a genuine grievance.

[clashcityrocker]

New laws could make rail strikes illegal unless a certain number of staff are working.

Us next?

[Woody Guthrie]

genuine grievance

A "genuine grievance" is only genuine to those that agree with it.
It's not a legal position, it's an opinion.

Trying to position an opinion as fact is dangerous both legally and morally.