Bill would decriminalize peaceful strike pickets in Spain

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill would remove the aggravated crime of coercion in the context of strikes from Article 315.3 of the Criminal Code, which punishes with prison those who coerce others into starting or continuing a strike. Instead, it would punish those who prevent or limit union freedom or the right to strike through deceit or taking advantage of someone's situation of need, with harsher penalties if force, violence or intimidation is used.
2. Pending cases for the crime in Article 315.3 would be dismissed, and existing convictions would be reviewed to annul them, at the request of the Public Prosecutor's Office within a maximum of 15 days.
3. If someone were already serving a prison sentence for that crime, it would be annulled, their criminal record would be canceled, and they would be compensated for the time spent in prison. Fines would be refunded with interest.
4. The law would take effect the day after its publication in the Official State Gazette (Boletín Oficial del Estado).

Who it affects

• Workers and union members prosecuted or convicted for the crime in Article 315.3: Their cases would be dismissed, their convictions annulled, their criminal records canceled and, where applicable, they would receive compensation.
• Workers on strike: They could organize informational pickets without risking criminal punishment for coercion.
• Unions: They would face less criminal pressure on their organizations and their strike-promotion activities.
• Employers or people who prevent strikes through deceit, taking advantage of need, force, violence or intimidation: They would still face criminal punishment, with aggravated penalties if they use force, violence or intimidation.

Words worth knowing

Piquete informativo

A group of people who inform workers that a strike is happening and peacefully ask them to join it.

Sobreseimiento

A decision to close a criminal case without a trial or conviction.

Proposición de Ley Orgánica

A bill filed in Congress to change a law affecting fundamental rights. It is not an approved law until it goes through the legislative process and is voted on.

Antecedentes penales

An official record of a person's criminal convictions.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries