For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Tuesday, February 11, 2020 USDL-20-0244
Technical information: (202) 691-6199 workstoppagesinfo@bls.gov www.bls.gov/wsp
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 pressoffice@bls.gov
MAJOR WORK STOPPAGES IN 2019
(NOTE: This news release was reissued February 19, 2021, correcting the number of work days for
the stoppage with the longest ongoing duration. Additional information is available
at www.bls.gov/errata/home.htm?errataID=83510.)
(NOTE: This news release was reissued January 22, 2024, correcting the number of work stoppages
by ownership over the 2010 – 2019 decade. Additional information is available
at www.bls.gov/errata/home.htm?errataID=163019.)
In 2019, there were 25 major work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers and lasting at least one
shift, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Between 2010 and 2019 there were a total of
154 work stoppages, averaging 15 stoppages a year.
There were 425,500 workers involved in major work stoppages that began in 2019, with the majority of
idled workers (270,000) in the educational services industry (13 work stoppages). The average number
of workers involved in work stoppages between 2010 and 2019 was 147,660, and 2018 had the largest
number of workers involved (485,200).
In 2019 the largest stoppage by lost workdays was the dispute between General Motors (GM) and United
Automotive Workers (UAW) involving 46,000 workers. The work stoppage began on September 16, 2019 and
spanned for 29 working days resulting in a cumulative loss of 1,334,000 work days. Since 1993, there
have been a total of 22 work stoppages involving GM, and the one beginning in 2019 was the fifth
largest in terms of number of workers involved, and second largest in terms of cumulative lost workdays.
The largest GM stoppage occurred in 1998 and involved 152,200 workers and over 3 million work days lost.
Decade (2010 - 2019) highlights
Industry
• There were 94 work stoppages in private industry, 36 in local government, and 24 in state government.
• The health care and social assistance industry group accounted for 45 stoppages, educational services
accounted for 38, and manufacturing accounted for 15.
Duration
• The longest ongoing stoppage is a dispute between Charter Communications and the International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 3 that started in March 2017 and presently involves 1,800
workers idled for 694 work days.
• The longest completed stoppage was a dispute between American Crystal Sugar Company and The Bakery,
Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers' International Union that started in August 2011 and
lasted for 342 work days.
Number of workers involved
• The two largest work stoppages were the dispute between North Carolina State Legislature and North
Carolina Association of Educators idling 123,000 workers in 2018 and 92,700 in 2019.
• The third largest stoppage involved the Arizona State Legislature and Arizona Education Association
idling 81,000 workers between April 26 and May 3, 2018.
TECHNICAL NOTE
The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides information on major (1,000 workers or more) work stoppages in
the United States. The number of workers includes those idled for one shift or longer in the
establishment(s) directly involved in the dispute as well as those in the establishment idled for
related reasons, such as their facility is closed down during the stoppage. An attempt is made to
contact the parties involved in the work stoppage (employer, employer group, or union) to determine
whether the duration and number of workers idled by the stoppage meet the thresholds for inclusion in
this report. For additional information on the concepts, data sources, design, measures, and history of
the work stoppages program, see www.bls.gov/opub/hom/wsp/home.htm.
Detailed monthly work stoppage data since 1993 are available at
www.bls.gov/web/wkstp/monthly-listing.htm and includes organization(s) involved, location, beginning and
ending dates, the number of workers, and total days of idleness.
Annual historical major work stoppages data from 1947 to present, including the number of work
stoppages, workers, and total days of idleness, are available at
www.bls.gov/web/wkstp/annual-listing.htm.
Historical Bureau of Labor Statistics work stoppages publications are available from 1936 to 1979
at www.bls.gov/wsp/wspfaq.htm#Question_10.
The Union Members – 2019 report is available at www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/union2.pdf.
United States Department of Labor
