Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

Information: (202) 691-6275 cbainfo@bls.gov USDL 06-363 

Media Contact: (202) 691-5902 For Release: 10:00 A.M. EST 

Internet Address: http://www.bls.gov/cba 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. 

 

United States 

Department News of Labor 
2

 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. 
3

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. 
4

 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 
5

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

Period

Number of

work

stoppages

beginning

in

period

Numbers of

workers

involved

(thousands)1

Days idle2

Number

(thousands)

Percent of

estimated

working time3

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

See footnotes at end of table.
6

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

Period

Number of

work

stoppages

beginning

in

period

Numbers of

workers

involved

(thousands)1

Days idle2

Number

(thousands)

Percent of

estimated

working time3

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. 
7

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

Organizations involved

 and location1

Industry

code2

Beginning

date

Ending

date

Number of

workers3 Days idle

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

See footnotes at end of table.
8

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

Organizations involved

 and location1

Industry

code2

Beginning

date

Ending

date

Number of

workers3 Days idle

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 1,4004 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 ( ) 4,1006 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

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.
9

Table 3. Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers, detailed monthly data, 2003 - 2005

Period

Number of

work

stoppages

beginning

in period

Number of

work

stoppages in

effect during

the month

Numbers of

workers

involved

(thousands)

includes

ongoing

work

stoppages

Days idle

(thousands)

includes

ongoing

work

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
10

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

Number of work stoppages

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 00 05

Chart B. Number of workers involved in major work stoppages, 1947-2005

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 00 05

Chart C. Number of days of idleness from major work stoppages, 1947-2005

Days of idleness

(thousands)

Number of workers

(thousands)

0

100

200

300

400

500

45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 00 05
11

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

Number of work stoppages

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

01 02 03 04 05 06

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

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

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)

Number of workers

(thousands)

0

2

4

6

8

10

01 02 03 04 05 06
12

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

Number of work stoppages

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

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)

0

2

4

6

8

10

01 02 03 04 05 06

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”.