Union says right to picket during lockdown secured following case involving North Yorkshire Police

Unite said the Government was forced to confirm workers taking lawful industrial action still have a right to picket at their workplace despite coronavirus restrictions.

A judicial review was due to be heard at the High Court on Friday against the chief constable of North Yorkshire Police and the Health Secretary, but Unite said the Government conceded at the last minute that the right to picket should be upheld.

The case emerged after Unite members on strike last week at Optare bus factory in Sherburn in Elmet, North Yorkshire, who were undertaking socially-distanced picketing, were moved on by police.

The union said that following a lawful ballot, its members picketed peacefully outside the factory immediately after new lockdown regulations came into force.

Unite’s legal case was based on the right to picket being a fundamental right protected by the Human Rights Act.

Unite assistant general-secretary Howard Beckett said: “This is a vital victory for the entire labour movement.

“The right to picket is fundamental and is one of the few actions that workers are legally entitled to use following a lawful ballot for strike action. Without the right to picket the very essence of the right to withdraw their labour is undermined.

“Unite’s members at Optare were holding a legal picket and abiding by strict social distancing rules. They had been told their workplace was safe for them to continue working, yet the police claimed that a picket outside the workplace contravened the lockdown rules.

“The decision by the police to break up that picket was wrong and the Government has now conceded it was wrong.”

----------------------

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today. Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you'll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers. Click here to subscribe.