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Economic News Release
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Major Work Stoppages (Annual) News Release


For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Wednesday, February 8, 2012                                  USDL-12-0215

Technical information:
     (202) 691-6275   Workstoppagesinfo@bls.gov   http://www.bls.gov/wsp
Media contact:
     (202) 691-5902   PressOffice@bls.gov


                                        MAJOR WORK STOPPAGES IN 2011


     In 2011, there were 19 major strikes and lockouts involving 1,000 or more workers and lasting at least 
one shift, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.  The 19 major work stoppages in 2011 
idled 113,000 workers for 1.02 million lost workdays, a large increase compared to 2010 with 11 major 
work stoppage idling 45,000 workers for 302,000 lost workdays. In 2009, there were record lows of 5 
major work stoppages idling 13,000 workers for 124,000 lost workdays. (See table 1.)

     The longest work stoppage beginning in 2011 was between American Crystal Sugar Company and the 
Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers, Sugar Council.  The ongoing work stoppage 
began in August and has lasted throughout the remainder of 2011 (105 workdays) with 1,300 workers 
accounting for 136,500 lost workdays. The largest work stoppage in 2011 in terms of number of workers 
and total workdays idle was between Verizon Communications and the Communications Workers of 
America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, with 45,000 workers accounting for 
450,000 lost workdays. (See table 2.)

     This release includes information for the work stoppage between the National Football League (NFL) 
and the NFL Players Association. The work stoppage between the National Basketball Association 
(NBA) and the NBA Players Association involved fewer than 1,000 workers and is therefore not part of 
this data series. 



                                            TECHNICAL NOTE

     The major work stoppages series dates back to 1947.  The term “major work stoppage” includes both 
worker-initiated strikes and employer-initiated lockouts that involve 1,000 workers or more and lasting 
at least one shift.  BLS does not distinguish between lockouts and strikes in its statistics.

     Information on work stoppages is obtained from reports from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation 
Service, State labor market information offices, BLS Strike Reports from the Office of Employment and 
Unemployment Statistics, and from major media sources.  One or both parties involved in the work 
stoppage (employer or union) is contacted to verify the duration and number of workers idled by the 
stoppage. 

     Days of idleness is calculated by multiplying the number of workers involved in the strike or lockout by 
the number of days workers are off the job.  The number of working days lost for every major work 
stoppage is based on a 5-day workweek (Monday through Friday), excluding Federal holidays.  

Monthly major work stoppages data

     The Bureau of Labor Statistics compiles detailed monthly statistics on major work stoppages at 
http://www.bls.gov/wsp.  

     Detailed data for each major work stoppage since 1993 includes the organization involved, location, 
beginning and ending work stoppage dates, the number of workers, and days idle.  

     Monthly time series data since 1981 have been published (http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/surveymost?ws) for 
the following tables:

     *   Number of work stoppages involving 1,000 workers or more beginning in the period
     *   Number of work stoppages involving 1,000 workers or more in effect in the period
     *   Number of workers involved in work stoppages beginning in the period
     *   Number of workers involved in work stoppages in effect in the period
     *   Days of idleness resulting from work stoppages in effect in the period
     *   Days of idleness resulting from work stoppages in effect in the period, as a percent of estimated 
         working time

Major work stoppages detailed information and measures

     For more information on Work Stoppages methods and measures, see “Chapter 8. National 
Compensation Measures” of the BLS Handbook of Methods at: 
www.bls.gov/opub/hom/pdf/homch8.pdf.


     Table 1.  Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers, 1947-2011
                                                                                             
                                                                                             
                                            Number of                      Days idle(2)      
                                              work      Numbers of                           
                                            stoppages     workers                            
                    Period                  beginning    involved                 Percent of 
                                               in      (thousands)-    Number      estimated 
                                             period         (1)      (thousands)    working  
                                                                                    time(3)  
                                                                                             
                                                                                             
      2011...............................       19           113         1,020        (4)    
                                                                                             
      2010...............................       11            45           302        (4)    
      2009...............................        5            13           124        (4)    
      2008...............................       15            72         1,954        .01    
      2007...............................       21           189         1,265        (4)    
      2006...............................       20            70         2,688        .01    
                                                                                             
      2005...............................       22           100         1,736        .01    
      2004...............................       17           171         3,344        .01    
      2003...............................       14           129         4,091        .01    
      2002...............................       19            46           660        (4)    
      2001...............................       29            99         1,151        (4)    
                                                                                             
      2000...............................       39           394        20,419        .06    
      1999...............................       17            73         1,996        .01    
      1998...............................       34           387         5,116        .02    
      1997...............................       29           339         4,497        .01    
      1996...............................       37           273         4,889        .02    
                                                                                             
      1995...............................       31           192         5,771        .02    
      1994...............................       45           322         5,021        .02    
      1993...............................       35           182         3,981        .01    
      1992...............................       35           364         3,989        .01    
      1991...............................       40           392         4,584        .02    
                                                                                             
      1990...............................       44           185         5,926        .02    
      1989...............................       51           452        16,996        .07    
      1988...............................       40           118         4,381        .02    
      1987...............................       46           174         4,481        .02    
      1986...............................       69           533        11,861        .05    
                                                                                             
      1985...............................       54           324         7,079        .03    
      1984...............................       62           376         8,499        .04    
      1983...............................       81           909        17,461        .08    
      1982...............................       96           656         9,061        .04    
      1981...............................      145           729        16,908        .07    
                                                                                             
      1980...............................      187           795        20,844        .09    
      1979...............................      235         1,021        20,409        .09    
      1978...............................      219         1,006        23,774        .11    
      1977...............................      298         1,212        21,258        .10    
      1976...............................      231         1,519        23,962        .12    
                                                                                             
      1975...............................      235           965        17,563        .09    
      1974...............................      424         1,796        31,809        .16    
      1973...............................      317         1,400        16,260        .08    
      1972...............................      250           975        16,764        .09    
      1971...............................      298         2,516        35,538        .19    
                                                                                             
      1970...............................      381         2,468        52,761        .29    
      1969...............................      412         1,576        29,397        .16    
      1968...............................      392         1,855        35,367        .20    
      1967...............................      381         2,192        31,320        .18    
      1966...............................      321         1,300        16,000        .10    
                                                                                             
      1965...............................      268           999        15,140        .10    
      1964...............................      246         1,183        16,220        .11    
      1963...............................      181           512        10,020        .07    
      1962...............................      211           793        11,760        .08    
      1961...............................      195         1,031        10,140        .07    
                                                                                             
      1960...............................      222           896        13,260        .09    
      1959...............................      245         1,381        60,850        .43    
      1958...............................      332         1,587        17,900        .13    
      1957...............................      279           887        10,340        .07    
      1956...............................      287         1,370        26,840        .20    
                                                                                             
      1955...............................      363         2,055        21,180        .16    
      1954...............................      265         1,075        16,630        .13    
      1953...............................      437         1,623        18,130        .14    
      1952...............................      470         2,746        48,820        .38    
      1951...............................      415         1,462        15,070        .12    
                                                                                             
      1950...............................      424         1,698        30,390        .26    
      1949...............................      262         2,537        43,420        .38    
      1948...............................      245         1,435        26,127        .22    
      1947...............................      270         1,629        25,720        (5)    

       1 Number of workers involved includes only those workers who participated in work
     stoppages that began in the calendar year. Workers are counted more than once if they
     are involved in more than one stoppage during the reference period. Numbers are rounded
     to the nearest thousand. 
       2 Days idle includes all stopages in effect during the reference period. For work
     stoppages that are still ongoing at the end of the calendar year, only those days of
     idleness in the calendar year are counted. 
       3 Agricultural and government employees are included in the calculation of estimated
     working time; private households, forestry, and fishery employees are excluded. 
       4 Less than .005. 
       5 Data not available. 


Table 2. Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers beginning in 2011
                                                                                                         
                                                                                                         
                                                    Industry   Beginning   Ending    Number of           
             Organizations involved,                 code(1)     date       date     workers(2)  Days idle
               location, and sector                                                                      
                                                                                                         
                                                                                                         
                                                                                                         
Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center                                                             
  Los Angeles, CA                                                                                        
  National Union of Healthcare Workers                                                                   
  (Private Industry)..............................   622110   3/2/11     3/2/11         1,000      1,000 
                                                                                                         
Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric &                                                                       
 Hawaii Electric Light Company                                                                           
 Hawaii                                                                                                  
 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers                                                         
 Local 1260                                                                                              
 (Private Industry)...............................   221112   3/4/11     3/7/11         1,300      2,600 
                                                                                                         
Washington Hospital Center                                                                               
  Washington, D.C.                                                                                       
  National Nurses United                                                                                 
  (Private Industry)..............................   622110   3/4/11     3/8/11         1,100      3,300 
                                                                                                         
National Football League                                                                                 
  Nationwide                                                                                             
  National Football League Players Association                                                           
  (Private Industry)..............................   711211   3/12/11    7/25/11        1,900    178,600 
                                                                                                         
Plumbing and Piping Industry Council Inc. dba                                                            
  Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association                                                        
  Tualatin, OR                                                                                           
  United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters                                                        
Local 290                                                                                                
  (Private Industry)..............................   238220   4/11/11    4/25/11        1,500     16,500 
                                                                                                         
General Building Contractors Association,                                                                
  Philadelphia, PA & DE Area                                                                             
  Metropolitan Regional Council of Carpenters of                                                         
Philadelphia                                                                                             
  & Vicinity Council                                                                                     
  (Private Industry)..............................   236220   5/4/11     5/12/11        3,000     21,000 
                                                                                                         
Interior Finish Contractors Association                                                                  
  Philadelphia, PA Area                                                                                  
  Metropolitan Regional Council of Carpenters of                                                         
Philadelphia                                                                                             
  & Vicinity Council                                                                                     
  (Private Industry)..............................   236220   5/4/11     5/12/11        2,500     17,500 
                                                                                                         
Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center                                                             
  Los Angeles, CA                                                                                        
  National Union of Healthcare Workers                                                                   
  (Private Industry)..............................   622110   5/18/11    5/18/11        2,000      2,000 
                                                                                                         
Mason Contractors Association                                                                            
  St. Louis, MO                                                                                          
  Bricklayers Local 1                                                                                    
  (Private Industry)..............................   238140   6/1/11     7/20/11        1,000     35,000 
                                                                                                         
Mechanical Contractors Association of Kansas City                                                        
  Kansas City, MO                                                                                        
  Pipefitters Local 533                                                                                  
  (Private Industry)..............................   238220   6/1/11     6/8/11         1,500      9,000 
                                                                                                         
Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors'                                                                     
  Association of Milwaukee                                                                               
  Milwaukee, WI                                                                                          
  United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters                                                        
Local 601                                                                                                
  (Private Industry)..............................   238220   6/30/11    7/22/11        2,500     40,000 
                                                                                                         
American Crystal Sugar Company                                                                           
  MN, IA, ND                                                                                             
  Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain                                                       
Millers,                                                                                                 
  Sugar Council                                                                                          
  (Private Industry)..............................   311313   8/1/11     ongoing        1,300    136,500 
                                                                                                         
Verizon Communications                                                                                   
  East Coast States                                                                                      
  Communications Workers of America &                                                                    
  International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers                                                        
  (Private Industry)..............................   517110   8/7/11     8/20/11       45,000    450,000 
                                                                                                         
Hyatt Hotels                                                                                             
  IL,CA, HI                                                                                              
  UNITE-HERE Locals 1,2,5,11                                                                             
  (Private Industry)..............................   721110   9/8/11     9/14/11        3,000     15,000 
                                                                                                         
City of Tacoma                                                                                           
  Tacoma, WA                                                                                             
  Tacoma Teachers Association                                                                            
  (Local Government)..............................   611110   9/13/11    9/22/11        1,900     15,200 
                                                                                                         
Sutter Hospitals, Kaiser Permanente Hospitals,                                                           
  Children's Hospital and Research Center                                                                
  CA                                                                                                     
  California Nurses Association/National Nurses                                                          
United,                                                                                                  
  National Union of Healthcare Workers &                                                                 
  International Union of Operating Engineers Local                                                       
39                                                                                                       
  (Private Industry)..............................   622110   9/22/11    9/22/11       29,000     29,000 
                                                                                                         
Sutter Hospitals, Children's Hospital and Research                                                       
Center                                                                                                   
  CA                                                                                                     
  California Nurses Association/National Nurses                                                          
United                                                                                                   
  (Private Industry)..............................   622110   9/23/11    9/26/11        6,000     12,000 
                                                                                                         
Cooper Tire and Rubber Company                                                                           
  Findlay, Ohio                                                                                          
  United Steel Workers Local 207L                                                                        
  (Private Industry)..............................   326211   11/28/11   ongoing        1,000     24,000 
                                                                                                         
Sutter Hospitals, Memorial Care Hospitals                                                                
  Los Angeles Area, San Francisco Bay Area, CA                                                           
  California Nurses Association/National Nurses                                                          
United                                                                                                   
  (Private Industry)..............................   622110   12/22/11   12/23/11       6,000     12,000 

  1 Industry code is from the 2007 NAICS (North American Industry Classification System).
  2 The number of workers involved is rounded to the nearest 100.

Last Modified Date: February 08, 2012