Revisiting Picketing within the Framework of Turkish Labour Law

Abstract

In the context of collective labour disputes, which often arise during negotiations for a collective labour agreement, various methods are employed by both employees and employers to resolve conflicts. Strike, one such method, involves employees abstaining from work or disrupting workplace activities to seek better working conditions or secure new rights. Strikes can be lawful or unlawful, depending on whether they adhere to the conditions specified in the Law No. 6356 on Trade Unions and Collective Bargaining Agreement. Picketing, another combative method, is utilized in labour law to address collective labour disputes and is closely linked to the freedom of expression. While colloquially defined as personal or collective protests using banners, picketing in labour law refers to employees gathering at the entrance of their workplace during a strike to voice complaints about the employer and persuade others to join the strike. This study aims to explore the concept of picketing within Turkish labour law and compare it with practices in Anglo-Saxon jurisdictions.