Information: USDL 09-0150
(202) 691-6275 WorkStoppagesInfo@bls.gov
Media Contact: FOR RELEASE: 10:00 A.M. EST
(202) 691-5902 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2009
Internet Address:
http://www.bls.gov/wsp
MAJOR WORK STOPPAGES IN 2008
Major work stoppages idled 72,000 workers for nearly two million workdays in
2008, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.
In 2008, the number of workers idled declined by more than half compared with 2007 when
there were 189,000 workers idled for 1.3 million workdays. In 2008, the largest work
stoppage in total days idle and number of workers was between the Boeing Company and the
International Association of Machinists Districts 24, 70, and 751 with 27,000 workers
accounting for 1,053,000 lost workdays.
In 2008, there were 15 major lockouts and strikes involving 1,000 or more workers
compared with 21 major work stoppages in 2007. (See table 1 and charts A-F) Of the 15 major
work stoppages beginning in 2008, 12 were in private industry and three were in State and
local government. In private industry, seven work stoppages occurred in goods-producing
industries along with five in service-producing industries. All three major work stoppages
in State and local government were in educational services.
The longest work stoppage that began in 2008 was between American Axle & Manufacturing,
Incorporated and the United Auto Workers International Union Locals 235, 262, 424, 846, and
2093, which was 63 days. Another long stoppage, between the Alliance of Motion Picture and
Television Producers and the Writers Guild of America West and East, was in effect in 2008
(having begun in November of 2007 and ending in February 2008) and lasted 68 days. The mean
length of a major work stoppage in 2008 was 14.9 days, up from 10.5 days in 2007. However, the
majority of work stoppages in 2008 were shorter with nine lasting 10 days or less (See table A).
The major work stoppages series, which dates back to 1947, covers strikes and lockouts
involving 1,000 or more employees and lasting at least one full shift. For work stoppages that
began prior to 2008, only days of idleness in calendar year 2008 are counted.
Table A. Duration of work stoppages beginning in 2008, 2007, and 2006
Duration 2008 2007 2006
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
1-2 days 4 27 6 29 5 25
3-10 days 5 33 6 29 6 30
11-30 days 3 20 7 33 6 30
31-50 days 2 13 2 10 1 5
>50 days 1 7 0 0 2 10
Note: Percent totals may not add to 100 because of rounding. The annual numbers represent
the total duration of all work stoppages initiated during each calendar year.
Table B. Number of work stoppages by the number of workers idled in 2008, 2007, and 2006
Number of workers idled 2008 2007 2006
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
1,000 to 1,999 5 33 8 38 10 50
2,000 to 2,999 4 27 2 10 2 10
3,000 to 4,999 2 13 4 19 3 15
5,000 to 7,499 2 13 3 14 2 10
7,500 to 9,999 1 7 0 0 2 10
10,000 to 19,999 0 0 1 5 1 5
20,000 or more 1 7 3 14 0 0
Table C. Number of work stoppages by number of work days idled in 2008, 2007, and 2006
Number of days of idleness 2008 2007 2006
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
1,000 to 4,999 2 13 2 10 2 10
5,000 to 9,999 3 20 3 14 5 25
10,000 to 14,999 2 13 3 14 2 10
15,000 to 19,999 0 0 3 14 2 10
20,000 to 29,999 1 7 1 5 2 10
30,000 to 49,999 2 13 4 19 2 10
50,000 to 99,999 3 20 1 5 1 5
100,000 to 299,999 1 7 3 14 2 10
300,000 or more 1 7 1 5 2 10
Note: The annual numbers represent the number of work days idled of all work stoppages
initiated during each calendar year.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The term "major work stoppage" includes both worker-initiated strikes and employer-initiated
lockouts that involve 1,000 workers or more. 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 media sources such as the Daily Labor Report and the Wall Street
Journal. 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 taking the number of workers involved in the strike or lockout
and multiplying it 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. For more information on work stoppage definitions and methods, please see
http://www.bls.gov/opub/hom/pdf/homch8.pdf.
For detailed monthly and annual work stoppage statistics, please see http://www.bls.gov/wsp.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Table 1. Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers, 1947-2008
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)
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 2008
Industry Beginning Ending Number of
Organizations involved, code(1) date date workers(2) Days idle
location, and industry type
Volvo Trucks North America
Dublin, VA,
United Auto Workers International Union
Local 2069
Private Industry........................... 336120 2/01/08 3/17/08 2,500 77,500
American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
Cheektowaga, Tonawanda, NY,
Detroit, Hamtramck, Three Rivers, MI,
United Auto Workers International Union
Locals 235, 262, 424, 846, 2093
Private Industry........................... 336350 2/26/08 5/22/08 3,600 226,800
Sutter Hospitals
San Francisco Bay Area, CA,
California Nurses Association
Private Industry........................... 622110 3/21/08 3/30/08 4,000 24,000
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI,
Graduate Employees Organizations
State Government........................... 611310 3/25/08 3/25/08 1,700 1,700
General Motors Corporation
Lansing, MI,
United Auto Workers International Union
Local 602
Private Industry........................... 336111 4/17/08 5/16/08 2,300 50,600
General Motors Corporation
Kansas City, MO,
United Auto Workers International Union
Local 31
Private Industry........................... 336111 5/05/08 5/21/08 2,400 31,200
Bay Area Maintenance Contractors
San Francisco Bay Area, CA,
Service Employees International Union
Local 1877
Private Industry........................... 561720 5/19/08 5/28/08 1,800 12,600
Indiana Construction Association
Indiana,
Laborers International Union of
North America
Private Industry........................... 236220 6/04/08 6/05/08 2,900 5,800
Performance Transportation Services
AZ, CA, DE, IL, IN, KY, MA, MI, MN, NJ,
NM, NY, OH, PA, TX, UT,
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Private Industry........................... 484121 6/09/08 6/13/08 1,300 6,500
University of California
California (Statewide),
American Federation of State, County and
Muncipal Employees
Local 3299
State Government........................... 611310 7/14/08 7/18/08 8,500 42,500
Hawker Beechcraft, Inc.
Wichita, Salina, KS,
International Association of Machinists
Local 733 and 2328
Private Industry........................... 336411 8/04/08 8/28/08 5,200 98,800
Daughters of Charity Health System
California,
Service Employees International Union /
United Health Care Workers West
Private Industry........................... 622110 8/28/08 8/29/08 1,800 1,800
Bellevue School District
Washington,
Bellevue Education Association
Local Government........................... 611110 9/02/08 9/12/08 1,200 10,800
The Boeing Company
Puget Sound Area, WA, Gresham, OR,
Wichita, KS,
Edwards Air Force Base, CA,
International Association of Machinists
Districts 24, 70, 751
Private Industry........................... 336411 9/06/08 11/01/08 27,000 1,053,000
Sutter Hospitals, Daughters of Charity and
Alliance Clinic
San Francisco Bay Area, CA,
Service Employees International Union
United Health Care Workers West
Private Industry........................... 622110 10/29/08 10/29/08 6,000 6,000
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.
United States Department of Labor
