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   Major Work Stoppages (Annual) News Release FOR RELEASE 10:00 A.M. (EST) TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2011                                    USDL-11-0153

Technical information:
     (202) 691-6199  Workstoppagesinfo@bls.gov  HTTP://www.bls.gov/wsp/
Media contact:
     (202) 691-5902  PressOffice@bls.gov


                                   MAJOR WORK STOPPAGES IN 2010

     In 2010, there were 11 major strikes and lockouts involving 1,000 or more workers and lasting
at least one shift, the second lowest annual total since the major work stoppages series began in
1947, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.  The series low for major work stoppages
beginning in a calendar year was 5 in 2009.  The 11 major work stoppages in 2010 idled 45,000
workers for 302,000 lost workdays, a large increase compared to 2009 record lows, with 5 stoppages
idling 13,000 workers for 124,000 lost workdays.

     Average annual major work stoppages have continued to decline by decade.  From 2001-2010,
there were approximately 17 major work stoppages on average per year, compared with 34 per year
from 1991-2000, 69 from 1981-1990, and 269 from 1971-1980.  (See chart 1.)  Total days idle from
major work stoppages from 2001-2010 have also declined over 90 percent from 1971-1980.  (See
chart 2.)

     The longest work stoppage beginning in 2010 was between Temple University Hospital and the
Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses & Allied Professionals, lasting 21 workdays with 1,500
workers accounting for 31,500 lost workdays.  The largest work stoppage in 2010 in terms of number
of workers and total workdays idle was the Chicago area construction strike between the Mid-America
Regional Bargaining Association and the Laborers International Union of North America District
Council of Chicago, International Union of Operating Engineers, and Chicago Regional Council of
Carpenters, with 15,000 workers accounting for 180,000 lost workdays.  (See table 2.)  TECHNICAL NOTE

     The major work stoppages series dates back to 1947.  The term "major work stoppage" includes
both worker-initiated strikes and employer-initiated lockouts that involve 1,000 workers or more
and lasting at least one shift.  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 major media sources.  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 multiplying the number of workers involved in the strike
or lockout 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.

Monthly major work stoppages data

     The Bureau of Labor Statistics compiles detailed monthly statistics on major work stoppages
at http://www.bls.gov/wsp.  

     Detailed data for each major work stoppage since 1993 includes the organization involved,
location, beginning and ending work stoppage dates, the number of workers, and days idle.

     Monthly time series data since 1981 have been published
(http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/surveymost?ws) for the following tables:

     * Number of work stoppages involving 1,000 workers or more beginning in the period
     * Number of work stoppages involving 1,000 workers or more in effect in the period
     * Number of workers involved in work stoppages beginning in the period
     * Number of workers involved in work stoppages in effect in the period
     * Days of idleness resulting from work stoppages in effect in the period
     * Days of idleness resulting from work stoppages in effect in the period, as a percent
of estimated working time

Major work stoppages detailed information and measures

     For more information on Work Stoppages methods and measures, see "Chapter 8. National
Compensation Measures" of the BLS Handbook of Methods at: www.bls.gov/opub/hom/pdf/homch8.pdf.  Table 1.  Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers, 1947-2010
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
                                       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)  
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
 2010...............................       11            45           302        (4)    
 2009...............................        5            13           124        (4)    
 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    
 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.  Table 2.  Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers beginning in 2010
                                                                                                              
                                                                                                              
                                                Industry     Beginning     Ending      Number of              
           Organizations involved,               code(1)       date         date      workers(2)    Days idle 
             location, and sector                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                              
Temple University Hospital                                                                                    
  Philadelphia, PA,                                                                                           
  Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses &                                                                  
  Allied Professionals                                                                                        
  State Government...........................    622110    3/31/10      4/28/10           1,500       31,500  
                                                                                                              
North Penn School District                                                                                    
  Montgomery County, PA,                                                                                      
  North Penn Education Association                                                                            
  Local Government...........................    611110    4/19/10      4/26/10           1,100        6,600  
                                                                                                              
Capistrano Unified School District                                                                            
  San Juan Capistrano area, CA,                                                                               
  Capistrano Unified Educators Association                                                                    
  Local Government...........................    611110    4/22/10      4/26/10           1,800        5,400  
                                                                                                              
Oakland Unified School District                                                                               
  Oakland, CA,                                                                                                
  Oakland Education Association                                                                               
  Local Government...........................    611110    4/29/10      4/29/10           2,500        2,500  
                                                                                                              
The Boeing Company                                                                                            
  Long Beach, CA,                                                                                             
  United Auto Workers                                                                                         
  Local 148                                                                                                   
  Private Industry...........................    336411    5/11/10      6/04/10           1,700       30,600  
                                                                                                              
Allina Health System/United Hospital,                                                                         
  Children's Hospitals and Clinics,                                                                           
  Fairview Health Services,                                                                                   
  HealthEast Care System,                                                                                     
  Mercy Hospital,                                                                                             
  North Memorial Hospital,                                                                                    
  Park Nicollete Methodist Hospital,                                                                          
  Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN,                                                                                   
  Minnesota Nurses Association                                                                                
  Private Industry...........................    622110    6/10/10      6/10/10          12,000       12,000  
                                                                                                              
Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning                                                                              
  Contractors Association of Milwaukee                                                                        
  Milwaukee, WI,                                                                                              
  Sheet Metal Workers'                                                                                        
  International Association                                                                                   
  Local 18                                                                                                    
  Private Industry...........................    238220    6/14/10      6/25/10           1,800       18,000  
                                                                                                              
Mid-America Regional Bargaining                                                                               
  Association                                                                                                 
  Chicago area, IL,                                                                                           
  Laborers International Union                                                                                
  of North America                                                                                            
  District Council of Chicago,                                                                                
  International Union of                                                                                      
  Operating Engineers,                                                                                        
  Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters                                                                      
  Private Industry...........................    237310    7/01/10      7/19/10          15,000      180,000  
                                                                                                              
New York Shipping Association/New Jersey,                                                                     
  New York City area, NJ, NY,                                                                                 
  International Longshoremen's Association                                                                    
  Private Industry...........................    488310    9/28/10      9/29/10           4,500        9,000  
                                                                                                              
Hilton Hotels Hawaiian Village                                                                                
  Beach Resort & Spa                                                                                          
  Honolulu, HI,                                                                                               
  UNITE HERE Local 5                                                                                          
  Private Industry...........................    721110    10/14/10     10/18/10          1,500        4,500  
                                                                                                              
HCA Corporation, Riverside Community                                                                          
  Hospital and West Hills                                                                                     
  Hospital and Medical Center                                                                                 
  Riverside and West Hills, CA,                                                                               
  Service Employees International Union                                                                       
  Local 121RN                                                                                                 
  Private Industry...........................    622110    12/23/10     12/28/10          1,100        2,200  

  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.
  Last Modified Date:
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