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Information: USDL 08-0202 (202) 691-6275 WorkStoppagesInfo@bls.gov Media Contact: FOR RELEASE: 10:00 A.M. EST (202) 691-5902 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2008 Internet Address: http://www.bls.gov/wsp MAJOR WORK STOPPAGES IN 2007 Major work stoppages idled 189,000 workers for 1.3 million workdays in 2007, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. In 2007, the largest major work stoppage in total days idle was between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the Writers Guild of America East and West, with 10,500 workers accounting for 409,500 lost workdays. The largest work stoppage in number of workers was between General Motors Corporation and the United Auto Workers, with 74,000 General Motors workers involved in the two day work stoppage. There were 21 lockouts and strikes involving 1,000 or more workers in 2007. For 2006, there were 20 stoppages involving 70,000 workers with 2.7 million workdays of idleness. (See table 1 and charts A-F.) Of the 21 major work stoppages beginning in 2007, 12 were in private industry and nine were in State and local governments. In private industry, eight work stoppages occurred in goods-producing industries along with four in service-providing industries. Of the nine work stoppages in State and local governments, five were in transportation and warehousing and four were in educational services. In 2007, State and local government work stoppages accounted for just over one-third of total workers idled, but only 15 percent of lost workdays. The mean length of a work stoppage in 2007 was 10.5 days, down from 26.5 days in 2006. Numerous work stoppages in 2007 were short in duration with six work stoppages lasting 2 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 2007, only days of idleness in calendar year 2007 are counted. Table A. Duration of work stoppages beginning in 2007, 2006, and 2005 Duration 2007 2006 2005 Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent 1-2 days 6 29 5 25 4 18 3-10 days 6 29 6 30 8 36 11-30 days 7 33 6 30 6 27 31-50 days 2 10 1 5 1 5 >50 days 0 0 2 10 3 14 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 2007, 2006, and 2005 Number of workers idled 2007 2006 2005 Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent 1,000 to 1,999 8 38 10 50 11 50 2,000 to 2,999 2 10 2 10 5 23 3,000 to 4,999 4 19 3 15 2 9 5,000 to 7,499 3 14 2 10 2 9 7,500 to 9,999 0 0 2 10 0 0 10,000 to 19,999 1 5 1 5 1 5 20,000 or more 3 14 0 0 1 5 Note: Percent totals may not add to 100 because of rounding. Table C. Number of work stoppages by number of work days idled in 2007, 2006, and 2005 Number of days of idleness 2007 2006 2005 Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent 1,000 to 4,999 2 10 2 10 3 14 5,000 to 9,999 3 14 5 25 4 18 10,000 to 14,999 3 14 2 10 1 5 15,000 to 19,999 3 14 2 10 4 18 20,000 to 29,999 1 5 2 10 2 9 30,000 to 49,999 4 19 2 10 2 9 50,000 to 99,999 1 5 1 5 2 9 100,000 to 299,999 3 14 2 10 2 9 300,000 or more 1 5 2 10 2 9 Note: Percent totals may not add to 100 because of rounding. 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 lock-out and multiplying it by the number of days workers are off the job. For detailed monthly and annual work stoppage statistics, please visit http://www.bls.gov/wsp.
Table 1. Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers, 1947-2007 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) 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 stoppages 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. Note: "Number of workers involved" in Table 1 reflects a tabulation of workers involved in a work stoppage that began in a specific year.
Table 2. Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers beginning in 2007 Industry Beginning Ending Number of Organizations involved code(1) date date workers(2) Days idle and location Harley-Davidson Motor Company York, PA, International Association of Machinists, Lodge 175 Private Industry.................. 336900 2/02/07 2/22/07 2,800 39,200 Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Ingalls Shipyard Pascagoula, MS, Pascagoula Metal Trades Council, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 733, Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 204, Special Police and Security Officers Local 655, Separate Division of the Machinists Private Industry.................. 336611 3/08/07 4/04/07 6,500 130,000 Community College of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA, Faculty and Staff Federation of CCP Local 2026 Local Government.................. 611210 3/13/07 3/27/07 1,300 14,300 National Fire Sprinkler Association Nationwide, Road Sprinkler Fitters Local 669 Private Industry.................. 238220 4/01/07 4/16/07 3,000 33,000 Foundation Coal Holdings Waynesburg, PA, United Mine Workers Private Industry.................. 212112 4/04/07 4/13/07 1,200 9,600 Hayward School District Hayward, CA, The Hayward Education Association Local Government.................. 611110 4/05/07 4/25/07 1,300 19,500 Associated Wall and Ceiling Contractors of Oregon and Southwest Washington, Inc. OR, WA, Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters Private Industry.................. 236220 6/01/07 6/19/07 1,200 15,600 National Electrical Contractors of America Puget Sound, WA, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 46 Private Industry.................. 238210 6/01/07 6/01/07 2,800 2,800 Orange County Transportation Authority, CA, International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 952 Local Government.................. 485113 7/07/07 7/16/07 1,100 6,600 Harlem Consolidated Schools, District 122 Machesney Park, IL, Harlem Federation of Teachers, Local 540 Local Government.................. 611110 8/21/07 9/01/07 1,000 9,000 University of Minnesota Duluth, MN, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3801 Local Government.................. 611310 9/05/07 9/21/07 3,100 40,300 Philadelphia Parking Authority Philadelphia, PA, Taxi Workers Alliance Local Government.................. 485310 9/05/07 9/06/07 1,200 1,200 New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission New York, NY, Taxi Workers Alliance Local Government.................. 485310 9/05/07 9/07/07 26,000 52,000 General Motors Corporation Nationwide, United Auto Workers Private Industry.................. 336111 9/24/07 9/26/07 74,000 148,000 San Francisco Bay Area Security Officers CA, Service Employees International Union 24/7 Private Industry.................. 561612 9/24/07 9/28/07 4,000 20,000 Sutter Hospitals CA, California Nurses Association Private Industry.................. 622110 10/10/07 10/12/07 5,000 15,000 New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission New York, NY, Taxi Workers Alliance Local Government.................. 485310 10/22/07 10/23/07 33,000 33,000 International Truck and Engine Corporation OH, IN, IL, PA, GA, TX, United Auto Workers Private Industry.................. 336120 10/23/07 12/13/07 3,700 133,200 Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers Nationwide, Writers Guild of America West, Writers Guild of America East Private Industry.................. 512110 11/05/07 ongoing 10,500 409,500 Paratransit Operators Coalition New York, NY, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181-1061 Local Government.................. 485991 12/10/07 12/19/07 1,500 12,000 Sutter Hospitals CA, California Nurses Association Private Industry.................. 622110 12/13/07 12/14/07 5,000 10,000 1 Industry code is from the 2002 NAICS (North American Industry Classification System). 2 The number of workers involved is rounded to the nearest 100.