• . Pickets may be sued
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LORRY DRIVERS who picket premises other than those of their employer could find themselves challenged in the courts, under the terms of recent Employment Acts.
The 1980 Employment Act permits "mobile workers" to picket the place from which their work is administered where it is not practicable for them to picket their normal working place or where they work at more than one place. This, effectively, restricts them to picketing their employer's depot.
Any other employer can seek an injunction preventing pickets from obstructing their workplaces. It is also possible for them to seek damages from the individuals on the picket, although no company has done this so far.
The 1982 Employment Act, which became effective on December 1 last year, extends the damages-seeking powers to certain officials of trades unions.