Information: (202) 691-6275 workstoppagesinfo@bls.gov USDL 09-0150 

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

Internet Address: http://www.bls.gov/wsp Wednesday, February 11, 2009 

MAJOR WORK STOPPAGES IN 2008 

 Major work stoppages idled 72,000 workers for nearly two million workdays in 2008, the U.S. 

Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. In 2008, the number of workers idled 

declined by more than half compared with 2007 when there were 189,000 workers idled for 1.3 million 

workdays. In 2008, the largest work stoppage in total days idle and number of workers was between the Boeing 

Company and the International Association of Machinists Districts 24, 70, and 751 with 27,000 workers 

accounting for 1,053,000 lost workdays. 

 In 2008, there were 15 major lockouts and strikes involving 1,000 or more workers compared with 21 

major work stoppages in 2007. (See table 1 and charts A-F) Of the 15 major work stoppages beginning in 2008, 

12 were in private industry and three were in State and local government. In private industry, seven work 

stoppages occurred in goods-producing industries along with five in service-producing industries. All three 

major work stoppages in State and local government were in educational services. 

The longest work stoppage that began in 2008 was between American Axle & Manufacturing, 

Incorporated and the United Auto Workers International Union Locals 235, 262, 424, 846, and 2093, which was 

63 days. Another long stoppage, between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the 

Writers Guild of America West and East, was in effect in 2008 (having begun in November of 2007 and ending 

in February 2008) and lasted 68 days. The mean length of a major work stoppage in 2008 was 14.9 days, up 

from 10.5 days in 2007. However, the majority of work stoppages in 2008 were shorter with nine lasting 10 

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 2008, only days of 

idleness in calendar year 2008 are counted. 

 

 

 Table A. Duration of work stoppages beginning in 2008, 2007, and 2006 

Duration 2008 2007 2006 

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent 

1-2 days 4 27 6 29 5 25 

3-10 days 5 33 6 29 6 30 

11-30 days 3 20 7 33 6 30 

31-50 days 2 13 2 10 1 5 

>50 days 1 7 0 0 2 10 

 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. 

 News

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

United States 

Department 

of Labor
2

 Table B. Number of work stoppages by the number of workers idled in 2008, 2007, and 2006 

Number of workers 

idled 

2008 2007 2006 

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent 

1,000 to 1,999 5 33 8 38 10 50 

2,000 to 2,999 4 27 2 10 2 10 

3,000 to 4,999 2 13 4 19 3 15 

5,000 to 7,499 2 13 3 14 2 10 

7,500 to 9,999 1 7 0 0 2 10 

10,000 to 19,999 0 0 1 5 1 5 

20,000 or more 1 7 3 14 0 0 

 

 Table C. Number of work stoppages by number of work days idled in 2008, 2007, and 2006 

Number of days of 

idleness 

2008 2007 2006 

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent 

1,000 to 4,999 2 13 2 10 2 10 

5,000 to 9,999 3 20 3 14 5 25 

10,000 to 14,999 2 13 3 14 2 10 

15,000 to 19,999 0 0 3 14 2 10 

20,000 to 29,999 1 7 1 5 2 10 

30,000 to 49,999 2 13 4 19 2 10 

50,000 to 99,999 3 20 1 5 1 5 

100,000 to 299,999 1 7 3 14 2 10 

300,000 or more 1 7 1 5 2 10 

 Note: 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 lockout and 

multiplying it by the number of days workers are off the job. The number of working days lost for every 

major work stoppage is based on a 5-day workweek (Monday through Friday), excluding Federal holidays. 

For more information on work stoppage definitions and methods, please see 

http://www.bls.gov/opub/hom/pdf/homch8.pdf. 

 For detailed monthly and annual work stoppage statistics, please see http://www.bls.gov/wsp. 
3

Table 1. Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers, 1947-2008

Period

Number of

work

stoppages

beginning

in

period

Numbers of

workers

involved

(thousands)1

Days idle2

Number

(thousands)

Percent of

estimated

working time3

2008 ............................................................ 15 72 1,954 .01

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

See footnotes at end of table.
4

Table 1. Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers, 1947-2008 — Continued

Period

Number of

work

stoppages

beginning

in

period

Numbers of

workers

involved

(thousands)1

Days idle2

Number

(thousands)

Percent of

estimated

working time3

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. 
5

Table 2. Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers beginning in 2008

Organizations involved,

 location, and industry type

Industry

code1

Beginning

date

Ending

date

Number of

workers2 Days idle

Volvo Trucks North America

 Dublin, VA,

 United Auto Workers International Union

 Local 2069

 Private Industry ........................................... 336120 2/01/08 3/17/08 2,500 77,500

American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.

 Cheektowaga, Tonawanda, NY,

 Detroit, Hamtramck, Three Rivers, MI,

 United Auto Workers International Union

 Locals 235, 262, 424, 846, 2093

 Private Industry ........................................... 336350 2/26/08 5/22/08 3,600 226,800

Sutter Hospitals

 San Francisco Bay Area, CA,

 California Nurses Association

 Private Industry ........................................... 622110 3/21/08 3/30/08 4,000 24,000

University of Michigan

 Ann Arbor, MI,

 Graduate Employees Organizations

 State Government ...................................... 611310 3/25/08 3/25/08 1,700 1,700

General Motors Corporation

 Lansing, MI,

 United Auto Workers International Union

 Local 602

 Private Industry ........................................... 336111 4/17/08 5/16/08 2,300 50,600

General Motors Corporation

 Kansas City, MO,

 United Auto Workers International Union

 Local 31

 Private Industry ........................................... 336111 5/05/08 5/21/08 2,400 31,200

Bay Area Maintenance Contractors

 San Francisco Bay Area, CA,

 Service Employees International Union

 Local 1877

 Private Industry ........................................... 561720 5/19/08 5/28/08 1,800 12,600

Indiana Construction Association

 Indiana,

 Laborers International Union of

 North America

 Private Industry ........................................... 236220 6/04/08 6/05/08 2,900 5,800

Performance Transportation Services

 AZ, CA, DE, IL, IN, KY, MA, MI, MN, NJ,

 NM, NY, OH, PA, TX, UT,

 International Brotherhood of Teamsters

 Private Industry ........................................... 484121 6/09/08 6/13/08 1,300 6,500

University of California

 California (Statewide),

 American Federation of State, County and

 Muncipal Employees

 Local 3299

 State Government ...................................... 611310 7/14/08 7/18/08 8,500 42,500

See footnotes at end of table.
6

Table 2. Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers beginning in 2008 — Continued

Organizations involved,

 location, and industry type

Industry

code1

Beginning

date

Ending

date

Number of

workers2 Days idle

Hawker Beechcraft, Inc.

 Wichita, Salina, KS,

 International Association of Machinists

 Local 733 and 2328

 Private Industry ........................................... 336411 8/04/08 8/28/08 5,200 98,800

Daughters of Charity Health System

 California,

 Service Employees International Union /

 United Health Care Workers West

 Private Industry ........................................... 622110 8/28/08 8/29/08 1,800 1,800

Bellevue School District

 Washington,

 Bellevue Education Association

 Local Government ...................................... 611110 9/02/08 9/12/08 1,200 10,800

The Boeing Company

 Puget Sound Area, WA, Gresham, OR,

 Wichita, KS,

 Edwards Air Force Base, CA,

 International Association of Machinists

 Districts 24, 70, 751

 Private Industry ........................................... 336411 9/06/08 11/01/08 27,000 1,053,000

Sutter Hospitals, Daughters of Charity and

Alliance Clinic

 San Francisco Bay Area, CA,

 Service Employees International Union

 United Health Care Workers West

 Private Industry ........................................... 622110 10/29/08 10/29/08 6,000 6,000

1 Industry code is from the 2007 NAICS (North American Industry Classification System). 2 The number of workers involved is rounded to the nearest 100. 
7

Chart A. Number of major work stoppages in effect, by month, 2004-2008

Number of work stoppages

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Chart B. Number of workers involved in major work stoppages in effect, by month, 2004-2008

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Chart C. Number of days of idleness from major work stoppages in effect, by month, 2004-2008

Days of idleness

(thousands)

Number of workers

(thousands)

0

2

4

6

8

10

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
8

0

100

200

300

400

500

45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 00 05 10

Chart D. Number of major work stoppages beginning in period, 1947-2008

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 10

Chart E. Number of workers involved in major work stoppages beginning in period, 1947-2008

Number of workers

(thousands)

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 10

Chart F. Number of days of idleness from major work stoppages beginning in period, 1947-2008

Days of idleness

(thousands)