Public Act 094-0321
 
HB1480 Enrolled LRB094 10718 RLC 41125 b

    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