Public Act 0321 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB1480 Enrolled LRB094 10718 RLC 41125 b

Public Act 094-0321

AN ACT concerning labor.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Labor Dispute Act is amended by adding Sections 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, and 1.5 as follows:

(820 ILCS 5/1.2 new)

Sec. 1.2. Legislative findings and declaration. The General Assembly finds that a union, union members, sympathizers, and an employer's employees have a right to communicate their dispute with a primary employer to the public by picketing the primary employer wherever they happen to be. The picketing may take place not only at the employer's main facility, but at job sites as well. The General Assembly recognizes that peaceful primary picketing of any type is explicitly permitted by statute pursuant to the National Labor Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. 151 et seq., and the Labor Management Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. 141 et seq., including the right to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection as provided in 29 U.S.C. 157 et seq.

(820 ILCS 5/1.3 new)

Sec. 1.3. Definitions. As used in Section 1.2 through 1.5:

"Employee" means any individual permitted to work by an employer in an occupation.

"Employer" means any individual, partnership, association, corporation, business trust, governmental or quasi-governmental body, or any person or group of persons that employs any person to work, labor, or exercise skill in connection with the operation of any business, industry, vocation, or occupation.

"Picketing" means the stationing of a person for an organization to apprise the public by signs or other means of the existence of a dispute pursuant to the National Labor Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. 151 et seq., and the Labor Management Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. 141 et seq.

"Dispute" includes any controversy concerning terms or conditions of employment, or concerning the association or representation of persons in negotiating, fixing, maintaining, changing, or seeking to arrange terms or conditions of employment or other protest, regardless of whether or not the disputants stand in the proximate relationship of employer and employee.

"Public right of way" means that portion of the highway or street adjacent to the roadway for accommodating stopped vehicles or for emergency use; or that portion of a street between the curb lines, or the lateral lines of a roadway, and the adjacent property lines.

"Temporary sign" means a sign or other display or device that is not permanently affixed and is capable of being removed at the end of each day or shift.

"Temporary shelter" means a tent or shelter that is not permanently affixed and is capable of being removed at the end of each day or shift, not to exceed 300 square feet in size.

(820 ILCS 5/1.4 new)

Sec. 1.4. Use of public right of way.

(a) Persons engaged in picketing shall be allowed to use public rights of way to apprise the public of the existence of a dispute for the following:

(1) The purposes of picketing.

(2) The erection of temporary signs announcing their dispute.

(3) The parking of at least one vehicle on the public right of way. Nothing in this Section shall require the accommodation of parking more than 10 vehicles on the public right of way. This Section shall not be construed to allow the blocking of fire hydrants. Picketers shall ensure that water mains, sewers, and other utilities are accessible for construction, maintenance, and emergency repair work.

(4) The erection of tents or other temporary shelter for the health, welfare, personal safety, and well-being of picketers.

(b) Any signs, tents, or temporary shelters shall be removed at the end of each day when the picketing has ceased. Signs, tents, or temporary shelters may be maintained so long as individuals participating in the labor dispute are present.

(c) This Section shall not be construed to allow the erection of a tent or shelter or parking of a vehicle where there is insufficient space on the public right of way. This Section shall not be construed to allow the erection of a tent or shelter on the right of way of any Class I highway as defined in Section 1-126.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code. Picketers shall ensure that a reasonable walkway exists for pedestrians and others to pass by the picketing activities. Persons using the right of way under this Section shall make reasonable attempts to keep the area free from garbage and significant damage.

(d) No sign, tent, or temporary shelter may be erected or maintained in such a manner as to obscure or otherwise physically interfere with an official traffic sign, signal, or device or to obstruct or physically interfere with a driver's view of approaching, merging, or intersecting traffic. The burden of proof shall rest on the unit of local government making such a claim. If a court determines that a sign, tent, or temporary shelter does not obscure or otherwise physically interfere with an official traffic sign, signal, or device or obstruct or physically interfere with a driver's view of approaching, merging, or intersecting traffic, the unit of local government is liable for all costs and attorney's fees.

(820 ILCS 5/1.5 new)

Sec. 1.5. Preemption. The provisions of any ordinance or resolution adopted before, on, or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly by any unit of local government that impose restrictions or limitations on the picketing of an employer in a manner inconsistent with this Act are invalid, and existing ordinances and resolutions, as they apply to picketing, are void. It is declared to be the policy of this State that the regulation of picketing is an exclusive power and function of the State. A home rule unit may not regulate picketing. This Section is a denial and limitation of home rule powers and functions under subsection (h) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution.

Effective Date: 1/1/2006