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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 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.













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Last Modified Date: February 11, 2015