On Thursday, the California Supreme Court upheld two state laws allowing labor unions to picket on privately owned property.
Justice Joyce L. Kennard justified the state’s interference in protests on private property because “the state’s interest in promoting collective bargaining to resolve labor disputes.”
She went on to explain that while other groups have no such rights, California “may single out labor-related speech for particular protection or regulation.”
The California court’s 6-1 ruling, overturned an appeals court ruling which decided that giving labor unions special status is a violation of the United States Constitution.
The case originated from a protest out side Ralph’s grocery store in Sacramento. The store had asked that picketers be removed from the entrance of the store. A trial court refused to order the protestors removal.