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For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Wednesday, February 11, 2015 USDL-15-0211 Technical information: (202) 691-6275 • workstoppagesinfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/wsp Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • pressoffice@bls.gov MAJOR WORK STOPPAGES IN 2014 In 2014, there were 11 major work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers and lasting at least one shift, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The 11 major work stoppages beginning in 2014 were down from the 15 major work stoppages beginning in 2013, and equaled the second lowest annual total (11 in 2010) of work stoppages since the series began in 1947. The lowest annual total was 5 in 2009. (See chart 1 and table 1.) Major work stoppages beginning in 2014 idled 34,000 workers, lower than the 2013 total of 55,000 idled workers. In 2014, there were 200,000 days idle from major work stoppages in effect, also lower than 2013 with 290,000 days idle. In 2014, private industry organizations accounted for 9 of the 11 major work stoppages in 2014. In addition, 7 of the 11 major work stoppages beginning in 2014 occurred in the health care and social assistance industry and the educational services industry. (See table 2.) In 2014, the largest major work stoppage in both days idle and duration was between FairPoint Communications and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Locals 2320, 2326, and 2327 and the Communications Workers of America Local 1400, with 1,700 workers accounting for 86,700 days idle in 2014. The work stoppage was still ongoing at the end of 2014. (See table 2.) Between 2009 and 2014, there have been 80 major work stoppages (average of 13.3 major work stoppages per year). Three industry groups combined for over 60 percent of all major work stoppages during the six year period: health care and social assistance (34 percent), educational services (15 percent), and construction (13 percent). (See chart 2.) Manufacturing had 11 percent of all major work stoppages between 2009 and 2014.
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 Report from the Office of Employment and Unemployment Statistics, and from 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 lost workdays 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 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 (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, 1947-2014 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) 2014............................... 11 34 200 (4) 2013............................... 15 55 290 (4) 2012............................... 19 148 1,131 (4) 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 2014 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | | | | | | Industry | Beginning| Ending | Number of| Days Organizations involved, | code(1) | date | date |workers(2)| idle(3) location, and sector | | | | | _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | University of Illinois at Chicago | | | | | Chicago, IL | | | | | UIC United Faculty | | | | | Local 6456 | | | | | (State Government)..............................| 611310 | 2/18/14 | 2/19/14 | 1,100 | 2,200 | | | | | Johns Hopkins Hospital | | | | | Baltimore, MD | | | | | Service Employees International Union | | | | | United Healthcare Workers East | | | | | Local 1199 | | | | | (Private Industry)..............................| 622110 | 4/09/14 | 4/11/14 | 2,000 | 6,000 | | | | | Army Fleet Support, LLC | | | | | Fort Rucker, AL | | | | | International Association of Machinists | | | | | Lodge 2003 | | | | | (Private Industry)..............................| 488190 | 4/28/14 | 5/4/14 | 3,000 | 15,000 | | | | | Queen of the Valley Medical Center, | | | | | Sutter Tracy Community Hospital, | | | | | Watsonville Community Hospital | | | | | Central CA | | | | | California Nurses Association, | | | | | National Nurses United | | | | | (Private Industry)..............................| 622110 | 8/14/14 | 8/15/14 | 1,000 | 1,000 | | | | | Zodiac Seats US | | | | | Gainesville, TX | | | | | United Brotherhood of Teamsters | | | | | Local 767 | | | | | (Private Industry)..............................| 336360 | 9/23/14 | 10/25/14 | 1,300 | 29,900 | | | | | Waukegan School District 60 | | | | | Waukegan, IL | | | | | Lake County Federation of Teachers | | | | | Local 504 | | | | | (Local Government)..............................| 611110 | 10/2/14 | 10/30/14 | 1,200 | 24,000 | | | | | FairPoint Communications | | | | | ME,NH,VT | | | | | International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers | | | | | Locals 2320, 2326, and 2327 | | | | | Communications Workers of America | | | | | Local 1400 | | | | | (Private Industry)..............................| 517110 | 10/17/14 | ongoing | 1,700 | 86,700 | | | | | Kaiser Permanente Hospitals and Sutter Hospitals | | | | | Northern and Central CA, | | | | | Providence Hospital, Washington, D.C. | | | | | California Nurses Association, | | | | | National Nurses United(4) | | | | | (Private Industry)..............................| 622110 | 11/11/14 | 11/12/14 | 19,000 | 19,000 | | | | | St. Joseph Medical Center, St. Clare Hospital | | | | | Takoma, WA, Lakewood, WA | | | | | Service Employees International Union | | | | | Local 1199NW | | | | | (Private Industry)..............................| 622110 | 11/18/14 | 11/19/14 | 1,100 | 1,100 | | | | | SFO Airport Restaurant Employer Council | | | | | San Francisco International Airport, CA | | | | | UNITE HERE Local 2 | | | | | (Private Industry)..............................| 722510 | 12/11/14 | 12/12/14 | 1,000 | 2,000 | | | | | MedStar Washington Hospital Center | | | | | Washington, D.C. | | | | | National Nurses United | | | | | (Private Industry)..............................| 622110 | 12/22/14 | 12/31/14 | 1,900 | 13,300 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1 Industry code is from the 2012 NAICS (North American Industry Classification System). 2 The number of workers involved is rounded to the nearest 100. 3 Days idle is measured by multiplying the cumulative number of lost workdays by the number of workers involved in the work stoppage. 4 Counted as a one day strike due to Federal holiday on 11/11/2014. - 6 -