Full text of 2005 : Text File : USDL 06-363
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Information: USDL 06-363
(202) 691-6275 cbainfo@bls.gov
Media Contact: For Release: 10:00 A.M. EST
(202) 691-5902 Thursday, March 2, 2006
Internet Address:
http://www.bls.gov/cba
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.
Table B. Number of work stoppages by the number of workers idled in 2005, 2004,
and 2003
Number of workers idled 2005 2004 2003
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 idleness 2005 2004 2003
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.
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 work stoppage statistics, please visit http://www.bls.gov/cba
Table 1. Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers, 1947-2005
Number of Days idle(2)
work Numbers of
stoppages workers Percent of
Period beginning involved Number estimated
in (thousands)- (thousands) working
period (1) time(3)
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.
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.
Table 2. Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers beginning in 2005
Industry Beginning Ending Number of
Organizations involved code(2) date date workers(3) Days idle
and location(1)
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
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 1,400(4) 134,100
Allied Building Metals Industries,
Inc.
International Association of
Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and
Reinforcing Iron Workers.......... 236220 7/08/05 7/22/05 1,500 16,500
Northwest Airlines Corporation
Eagan, MN
Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal
Association, Ind.................. 481111 8/20/05 (5) 4,100(6) 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) 1,400(7) 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
1 Labor organizations are affiliated with the AFL-CIO except where noted as Independent (Ind.).
2 Industry code is from the 2002 NAICS (North American Industry Classification System).
3 BLS rounds figures to the nearest 100. Companies and unions may have rounded the figures before
providing them to BLS.
4 Number of workers idled was 1,100 until August 1, 2005, when it increased to 1,500.
5 This work stoppage was still active as of December 31, 2005. All data presented are for the 2005
calendar year.
6 Number of workers idled was 4,200 until December 1, 2005, when it decreased to 3,000.
7 Number of workers idled was 1,500 until December 1, 2005, when it decreased to 1,300.
Table 3. Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers, detailed monthly data, 2003 -
2005
Numbers of
Number of workers Days idle
Number of work involved (thousands)
work stoppages in (thousands) includes
Period stoppages effect includes ongoing
beginning during ongoing work
in period the month work stoppages
stoppages
2005........................... 22 (1) 161 1736
January........................... 0 2 3 50
February.......................... 0 2 3 49
March............................. 3 5 9 98
April............................. 4 7 17 95
May............................... 5 8 14 116
June.............................. 4 9 13 84
July.............................. 1 3 4 65
August............................ 1 3 7 98
September......................... 1 4 25 513
October........................... 1 4 12 145
November.......................... 1 5 14 182
December.......................... 1 4 42 242
2004........................... 17 (1) 320 3340
January........................... 0 1 61 1204
February.......................... 1 2 67 1147
March............................. 1 1 2 44
April............................. 0 1 2 26
May............................... 2 2 103 204
June.............................. 3 4 29 94
July.............................. 0 1 2 3
August............................ 2 2 4 53
September......................... 2 3 7 57
October........................... 1 3 16 300
November.......................... 2 4 17 115
December.......................... 3 4 11 98
2003........................... 14 (1) 277 4091
January........................... 1 2 19 49
February.......................... 0 0 0 0
March............................. 2 2 4 19
April............................. 1 1 4 40
May............................... 1 1 1 8
June.............................. 1 1 4 16
July.............................. 0 1 4 12
August............................ 3 3 8 36
September......................... 0 2 3 51
October........................... 5 5 82 1169
November.......................... 0 3 77 1219
December.......................... 0 2 71 1473
1 Not applicable