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News

United States
Department
of Labor

Bureau of Labor Statistics
Information:
(202) 691-6275 cbainfo@bls.gov
Media Contact: (202) 691-5902
Internet Address: http://www.bls.gov/cba

Washington, D.C. 20212
USDL 06-363
For Release: 10:00 A.M. EST
Thursday, March 2, 2006

MAJOR WORK STOPPAGES IN 2005
Major lockouts and strikes idled 99,600 workers with 1.7 million workdays of idleness in
2005, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Both measures
declined from the prior year despite an increase in the number of work stoppage events.
The total number of lockouts and strikes increased to 22 in 2005. Comparable figures for
2004 were 17 stoppages, 170,700 workers idled and 3.3 million workdays of idleness. (See Tables
1 & 3 and Charts A-C and G-H). 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 shift. For
work stoppages that span two different calendar years, only those days of idleness in calendar year
2005 are counted.
Of the 22 major work stoppages beginning in 2005, 17 were in private industry and 5 were
in State and local governments. In private industry, the largest number of work stoppages
occurring in one industry was six, in manufacturing. Of the eight work stoppages occurring in
service providing industries, the majority were in plumbing and mechanical contractors, while one
was in the airline industry and another in the telecommunications industry. In State and local
governments, three work stoppages occurred at colleges and universities and two were in
transportation.
Changes to Major Work Stoppages News Release
There are two new tables (B and C) and five new charts (D through H) in this news release.
Table B shows the relative size of the major work stoppages that occurred in 2005. Table C shows a
combination of the duration (Table A) and size (Table B) of the major work stoppages that occurred in
2005.
Charts D through F focus on the number of work stoppages in effect, by month, over the last five years.
Chart D depicts the number of work stoppages; Chart E depicts the number of workers involved; and Chart
F depicts the number of days of idleness.
Charts G and H focus on the number of work stoppages beginning in the referenced month, over the last
five years. Chart G depicts the number of work stoppages and Chart H depicts the number of workers
involved. See the note on page 12 for more information about the new charts.

The largest work stoppage in terms of idleness in 2005 was between Northwest Airlines
and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association with 371,700 days idle. The second largest was
the work stoppage between the Boeing Company and the International Association of Machinists,
District 751, with 366,000 days idle. The third largest work stoppage in 2005 was a work stoppage
that began in 2004 between Ormet and United Steel Workers of America locals 5724 & 5760 with
324,300 days idle in 2005. All three of these work stoppages were still ongoing at the beginning
of 2006.

The average length of a work stoppage beginning in 2005 was 20 days. The longest work
stoppage lasted 96 days and involved Asarco, Inc. and the United Steelworkers of America Locals
915, 5252, 88601 and 88602 and the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental
and Reinforcing Iron Workers, Local 75. The second longest was the Northwest Airlines, Aircraft
Mechanics Fraternal Association work stoppage that lasted 91 days. The longest work stoppage
in effect during 2005 was between Ormet and the United Steel Workers of America, which lasted
251 days in 2005. This work stoppage began in 2004 and does not contribute to the average length
of 20 days for a work stoppage beginning in 2005.

The largest work stoppage in terms of worker participation in 2005 involved the New York
City Metropolitan Transit Authority and the Transit Workers Union, Local 100 and idled 35,000
employees. The second largest was the Boeing Company and the International Association of
Machinist, District 751 where 18,300 workers were idled. The third largest involved the
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and the Transport Workers Union Local 234,
United Transportation Union Local 1594 and idled 5,300 workers.

Table A. Duration of work stoppages beginning in 2005, 2004, and 2003
Duration
2005
2004
2003
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
1-2 days
4
18
3
18
1
7
3-10 days
8
36
6
35
6
43
11-20 days
5
23
2
12
1
7
21-30 days
1
5
1
6
2
14
31-40 days
1
5
2
12
1
7
41-50 days
0
0
0
0
1
7
>50 days
3
14
3
18
2
14
Note: Percent totals may not add to 100 because of rounding. The 2003 and 2004 numbers represent the total
duration of all work stoppages initiated during those respective years. The 2005 numbers represent work stoppages
initiated in 2005; at the beginning of 2006, two work stoppages that were initiated in 2005 were still ongoing.

2

Table B. Number of work stoppages by the number of workers idled in 2005, 2004, and 2003
Number of workers
2005
2004
2003
idled
Number Percent Number
Percent
Number
Percent
1,000 to 1,999
11
50
6
35
4
29
2,000 to 2,999
5
23
3
18
1
7
3,000 to 4,999
2
9
2
12
4
29
5,000 to 7,499
2
9
3
18
2
14
7,500 to 9,999
0
0
0
0
0
0
10,000 to 14,999
0
0
1
6
1
7
15,000 to 19,999
1
5
1
6
1
7
20,000 or more
1
5
1
6
1
7
Note: Percent totals may not add to 100 because of rounding.

Table C. Number of work stoppages by number of work days idled in 2005, 2004, and 2003
Number of days of
2005
2004
2003
idleness
Number Percent
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
1,000 to 4,999
3
14
0
0
0
0
5,000 to 9,999
4
18
4
24
2
14
10,000 to 14,999
1
5
1
6
2
14
15,000 to 19,999
4
18
1
6
0
0
20,000 to 29,999
2
9
2
12
3
21
30,000 to 49,999
2
9
1
6
3
21
50,000 to 74,999
1
5
2
12
0
0
75,000 to 99,999
1
5
1
6
0
0
100,000 to 199,999
2
9
2
12
3
21
200,000 to 299,999
0
0
2
12
0
0
300,000 or more
2
9
1
6
1
7
Note: Percent totals may not add to 100 because of rounding. The 2003 and 2004 numbers represent the number of
work days idled of all work stoppages initiated during those respective years. The 2005 numbers represent work
stoppages initiated in 2005; at the beginning of 2006, two work stoppages that were initiated in 2005 were still
ongoing.

3

The Term “major work stoppage” includes both worker-initiated strikes and employerinitiated 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 work stoppage statistics, please visit http://www.bls.gov/cba

4

Table 1. Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers, 1947-2005

Period

Number of
work
stoppages
beginning
in
period

2005 ............................................................
2004 ............................................................
2003 ............................................................
2002 ............................................................
2001 ............................................................
2000 ............................................................

22
17
14
19
29
39

1999 ............................................................
1998 ............................................................
1997 ............................................................
1996 ............................................................
1995 ............................................................

Days idle2
Numbers of
workers
involved
(thousands)1

Number
(thousands)

Percent of
estimated
working time3

100
171
129
46
99
394

1,736
3,344
4,091
660
1,151
20,419

.01
.01
.01
(4)
(4)
.06

17
34
29
37
31

73
387
339
273
192

1,996
5,116
4,497
4,889
5,771

.01
.02
.01
.02
.02

1994 ............................................................
1993 ............................................................
1992 ............................................................
1991 ............................................................
1990 ............................................................

45
35
35
40
44

322
182
364
392
185

5,021
3,981
3,989
4,584
5,926

.02
.01
.01
.02
.02

1989 ............................................................
1988 ............................................................
1987 ............................................................
1986 ............................................................
1985 ............................................................

51
40
46
69
54

452
118
174
533
324

16,996
4,381
4,481
11,861
7,079

.07
.02
.02
.05
.03

1984 ............................................................
1983 ............................................................
1982 ............................................................
1981 ............................................................
1980 ............................................................

62
81
96
145
187

376
909
656
729
795

8,499
17,461
9,061
16,908
20,844

.04
.08
.04
.07
.09

1979 ............................................................
1978 ............................................................
1977 ............................................................
1976 ............................................................
1975 ............................................................

235
219
298
231
235

1,021
1,006
1,212
1,519
965

20,409
23,774
21,258
23,962
17,563

.09
.11
.10
.12
.09

1974 ............................................................
1973 ............................................................
1972 ............................................................
1971 ............................................................
1970 ............................................................

424
317
250
298
381

1,796
1,400
975
2,516
2,468

31,809
16,260
16,764
35,538
52,761

.16
.08
.09
.19
.29

1969 ............................................................
1968 ............................................................
1967 ............................................................
1966 ............................................................
1965 ............................................................

412
392
381
321
268

1,576
1,855
2,192
1,300
999

29,397
35,367
31,320
16,000
15,140

.16
.20
.18
.10
.10

1964 ............................................................
1963 ............................................................
1962 ............................................................
1961 ............................................................
1960 ............................................................

246
181
211
195
222

1,183
512
793
1,031
896

16,220
10,020
11,760
10,140
13,260

.11
.07
.08
.07
.09

1959 ............................................................
1958 ............................................................
1957 ............................................................
1956 ............................................................

245
332
279
287

1,381
1,587
887
1,370

60,850
17,900
10,340
26,840

.43
.13
.07
.20

See footnotes at end of table.

5

Table 1. Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers, 1947-2005 — Continued
Days idle2

Period

Number of
work
stoppages
beginning
in
period

Numbers of
workers
involved
(thousands)1

Number
(thousands)

Percent of
estimated
working time3

1955 ............................................................

363

2,055

21,180

.16

1954 ............................................................
1953 ............................................................
1952 ............................................................
1951 ............................................................
1950 ............................................................

265
437
470
415
424

1,075
1,623
2,746
1,462
1,698

16,630
18,130
48,820
15,070
30,390

.13
.14
.38
.12
.26

1949 ............................................................
1948 ............................................................
1947 ............................................................

262
245
270

2,537
1,435
1,629

43,420
26,127
25,720

.38
.22
(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.
Note: "Number of workers involved" in Table 1 reflects a
tabulation of workers involved in a work stoppage that
began in a specific year. "Number of workers involved" in
Table 3 reflects a tabulation of all workers involved in a
work stoppage in that year regardless of when the work
stoppage was initiated.

6

Table 2. Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers beginning in 2005
Industry
code2

Beginning
date

Ending
date

Lockheed Martin Corporation
Marietta, GA
Association of Machinists,
Lodge 709 ...................................................

336411

3/08/05

3/15/05

3,000

18,000

Cooper Tire
Texarkana, AR
United Steelworkers of America,
Local 752 ....................................................

326211

3/14/05

4/11/05

1,700

34,000

Elevator Manufacturers Association of New
York
New York, NY
(Kone, Inc.; Otis Elevator Co.; Schindler
Elevator Corp.) ...........................................

333921

3/17/05

6/26/05

1,200

85,200

University of California
Oakland, CA
American Federation of State, County,
and Municipal Employees (AFSME),
Local 3299 .................................................

611310

4/14/05

4/15/05

7,000

7,000

University of California
Oakland, CA
Coalition of University Employees ..............

611310

4/14/05

4/15/05

2,000

2,000

University of California
Oakland, CA
University Professional and
Technical Employees .................................

611310

4/14/05

4/15/05

2,000

2,000

Plumbing & Mechanical Contractors
Association
Chicago, IL
United Association of Steamfitters,
Local 601 ....................................................

236200

4/14/05

5/02/05

1,800

23,400

Mechanical Contractors Association
Philadelphia, PA
United Association of Steamfitters,
Local 420 ....................................................

236200

5/01/05

5/04/05

2,700

8,100

Construction Employers Association
Cleveland, OH
Laborers International Union
of North America .........................................

236200

5/02/05

5/11/05

2,100

16,800

NSTAR
Baintree, MA
Utility Workers Union of America,
Local 369 ....................................................

221110

5/15/05

6/01/05

1,900

22,800

Coca-Cola
Southern CA & South Windsor, CT
International Brotherhood of Teamsters,
Locals 848, 896, 962, 986, 1035 ................

312111

5/23/05

6/03/05

1,900

17,100

Moving and Storage Companies
New York City area, NY
International Brotherhood of Teamsters,
Local 814 ....................................................

484210

5/25/05

6/13/05

1,000

12,000

Organizations involved
and location1

See footnotes at end of table.

7

Number of
workers3

Days idle

Table 2. Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers beginning in 2005 — Continued
Industry
code2

Beginning
date

Ending
date

Mechanical Contractors Association
Pittsburgh, PA
United Association of Steamfitters,
Local 449 ....................................................

236000

6/01/05

6/09/05

1,000

7,000

Mid-Michigan Mechanical Contractors
Association
Michigan
United Association of Steamfitters,
Local 333 ....................................................

236000

6/01/05

6/03/05

1,000

3,000

Los Angeles Hotel Employers Council
Los Angeles, CA
UNITE HERE, Local 11 ..............................

721110

6/09/05

6/11/05

2,400

7,200

Asarco, Inc.
Tucson, AZ
United Steelworkers of America, Locals
915, 5252, 88601, 88602 ............................

212231

6/30/05

11/15/05

Allied Building Metals Industries, Inc.
International Association of Bridge,
Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing
Iron Workers ...............................................

236220

7/08/05

7/22/05

Northwest Airlines Corporation
Eagan, MN
Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal
Association, Ind. .........................................

481111

8/20/05

(5)

4,1006

371,700

The Boeing Company
Puget Sound Area; Portland, OR;
Wichita, KS
International Association of Machinist,
District 751 ..................................................

336411

9/02/05

9/30/05

18,300

366,000

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation
Authority
Philadelphia, PA
Transportation Workers Union, Local 234,
United Transportation Union, Local 1594 ...

485111

10/31/05

11/07/05

5,300

31,800

The Boeing Company
Huntington Beach, Torrance, Vandenberg
and Edwards Air Force Bases, CA;
Cape Canaveral, FL;
Huntsville and Decatur, AL
International Association of Machinist ........

336411

11/02/05

(5)

1,4007

57,300

New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority
New York, NY
Transit Workers Union, Local 100 ..............

485110

12/20/05

12/23/05

35,000

105,000

Organizations involved
and location1

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Number of
workers3

1,4004

1,500

Labor organizations are affiliated with the AFL-CIO except where noted as Independent (Ind.).
Industry code is from the 2002 NAICS (North American Industry Classification System).
BLS rounds figures to the nearest 100. Companies and unions may have rounded the figures before providing them to BLS.
Number of workers idled was 1,100 until August 1, 2005, when it increased to 1,500.
This work stoppage was still active as of December 31, 2005. All data presented are for the 2005 calendar year.
Number of workers idled was 4,200 until December 1, 2005, when it decreased to 3,000.
Number of workers idled was 1,500 until December 1, 2005, when it decreased to 1,300.

8

Days idle

134,100

16,500

Table 3. Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers, detailed monthly data, 2003 - 2005
Numbers of
workers
involved
(thousands)
includes
ongoing
work
stoppages

Days idle
(thousands)
includes
ongoing
work
stoppages

Number of
work
stoppages
beginning
in period

Number of
work
stoppages in
effect during
the month

2005 ....................................................

22

(1)

161

1736

January .....................................................
February ...................................................
March ........................................................
April ..........................................................
May ...........................................................
June ..........................................................
July ...........................................................
August ......................................................
September ................................................
October .....................................................
November .................................................
December .................................................

0
0
3
4
5
4
1
1
1
1
1
1

2
2
5
7
8
9
3
3
4
4
5
4

3
3
9
17
14
13
4
7
25
12
14
42

50
49
98
95
116
84
65
98
513
145
182
242

2004 ....................................................

17

(1)

320

3340

January .....................................................
February ...................................................
March ........................................................
April ..........................................................
May ...........................................................
June ..........................................................
July ...........................................................
August ......................................................
September ................................................
October .....................................................
November .................................................
December .................................................

0
1
1
0
2
3
0
2
2
1
2
3

1
2
1
1
2
4
1
2
3
3
4
4

61
67
2
2
103
29
2
4
7
16
17
11

1204
1147
44
26
204
94
3
53
57
300
115
98

2003 ....................................................

14

(1)

277

4091

January .....................................................
February ...................................................
March ........................................................
April ..........................................................
May ...........................................................
June ..........................................................
July ...........................................................
August ......................................................
September ................................................
October .....................................................
November .................................................
December .................................................

1
0
2
1
1
1
0
3
0
5
0
0

2
0
2
1
1
1
1
3
2
5
3
2

19
0
4
4
1
4
4
8
3
82
77
71

49
0
19
40
8
16
12
36
51
1169
1219
1473

Period

1 Not applicable

9

Chart A. Number of major work stoppages, 1947-2005
Number of work stoppages
500

400

300

200

100

0
45

50

55

60

65

70

75

80

85

90

95

00

05

95

00

05

95

00

05

Chart B. Number of workers involved in major work stoppages, 1947-2005
Number of workers
(thousands)
3,000

2,500

2,000

1,500

1,000

500

0
45

50

55

60

65

70

75

80

85

90

Chart C. Number of days of idleness from major work stoppages, 1947-2005
Days of idleness
(thousands)

70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000

0
45

50

55

60

65

70

10

75

80

85

90

Chart D. Number of major work stoppages in effect, by month, 2001-2005
Number of work stoppages
10

8

6

4

2

0
01

02

03

04

05

06

Chart E. Number of workers involved in major work stoppages in effect, by month, 2001-2005
Number of workers
(thousands)
120

100

80

60

40

20

0
01

02

03

04

05

06

Chart F. Number of days of idleness from major work stoppages in effect, by month, 2001-2005
Days of idleness
(thousands)

1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0

01

02

03

11

04

05

06

Chart G. Number of major work stoppages beginning, by month, 2001-2005
Number of work stoppages
10

8

6

4

2

0
01

02

03

04

05

06

Chart H. Number of workers involved in major work stoppages beginning, by month, 2001-2005
Number of workers
(thousands)
120

100

80

60

40

20

0
01

02

03

04

05

A note about Charts D-H. The term “major work stoppages beginning” refers to work stoppages that
are initiated during the reference period, while the term “major work stoppages in effect” refers to all
work stoppages that are active during the reference period. For example, if a work stoppage began
in January 2005 and ended in March 2005, that work stoppage would be listed once in the “major
work stoppages beginning” charts (Charts G & H). This work stoppage would also be listed for the
months of January 2005, February 2005, and March 2005 in the “major work stoppages in effect”
charts (Charts D, E, & F) because the work stoppage was active during 3 different months. In all
cases, the “major work stoppages in effect” will be equal to or greater than the “number of work
stoppages beginning”.

12

06