For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, February 11, 2020 USDL-20-0244

Technical information: (202) 691-6199 • workstoppagesinfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/wsp

Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • pressoffice@bls.gov

MAJOR WORK STOPPAGES IN 2019

(NOTE: This news release was reissued February 19, 2021, correcting the number of work days 

for the stoppage with the longest ongoing duration on page 2. Additional information is 

available at www.bls.gov/errata/home.htm?errataID=83510.)

(NOTE: This news release was reissued January 22, 2024, correcting the number of work 

stoppages by ownership over the 2010 – 2019 decade on page 2. Additional information is 

available at www.bls.gov/errata/home.htm?errataID=163019.)

In 2019, there were 25 major work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers and lasting at 

least one shift, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Between 2010 and 2019 

there were a total of 154 work stoppages, averaging 15 stoppages a year. (See chart 1.) 

There were 425,500 workers involved in major work stoppages that began in 2019, with the 

majority of idled workers (270,000) in the educational services industry (13 work stoppages). 

The average number of workers involved in work stoppages between 2010 and 2019 was 

147,660, and 2018 had the largest number of workers involved (485,200). 

In 2019 the largest stoppage by lost workdays was the dispute between General Motors (GM) 

and United Automotive Workers (UAW) involving 46,000 workers. The work stoppage began 

on September 16, 2019 and spanned for 29 working days resulting in a cumulative loss of 

1,334,000 work days. Since 1993, there have been a total of 22 work stoppages involving GM, 

and the one beginning in 2019 was the fifth largest in terms of number of workers involved, and 

second largest in terms of cumulative lost workdays. The largest GM stoppage occurred in 1998 

and involved 152,200 workers and over 3 million work days lost.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Chart 1. Number of work stoppages beginning in the year

Work stoppages Average
Decade (2010 - 2019) highlights 

Industry 

• There were 94 work stoppages in private industry, 36 in local government, and 24 in state

government.

• The health care and social assistance industry group accounted for 45 stoppages,

educational services accounted for 38, and manufacturing accounted for 15.

Duration 

 The longest ongoing stoppage is a dispute between Charter Communications and the

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 3 that started in March 2017 and

presently involves 1,800 workers idled for 694 work days.

 The longest completed stoppage was a dispute between American Crystal Sugar

Company and The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers'

International Union that started in August 2011 and lasted for 342 work days.

Number of workers involved 

 The two largest work stoppages were the dispute between North Carolina State

Legislature and North Carolina Association of Educators idling 123,000 workers in 2018

and 92,700 in 2019.

 The third largest stoppage involved the Arizona State Legislature and Arizona Education

Association idling 81,000 workers between April 26 and May 3, 2018.

TECHNICAL NOTE 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides information on major (1,000 workers or more) work 

stoppages in the United States. The number of workers includes those idled for one shift or 

longer in the establishment(s) directly involved in the dispute as well as those in the 

establishment idled for related reasons, such as their facility is closed down during the stoppage. 

An attempt is made to contact the parties involved in the work stoppage (employer, employer 

group, or union) to determine whether the duration and number of workers idled by the stoppage 

meet the thresholds for inclusion in this report. For additional information on the concepts, data 

sources, design, measures, and history of the work stoppages program, see 

www.bls.gov/opub/hom/wsp/home.htm.

Detailed monthly work stoppage data since 1993 are available at 

www.bls.gov/web/wkstp/monthly-listing.htm and includes organization(s) involved, location, 

beginning and ending dates, the number of workers, and total days of idleness. 

Annual historical major work stoppages data from 1947 to present, including the number of work 

stoppages, workers, and total days of idleness, are available at www.bls.gov/web/wkstp/annuallisting.htm.

Historical Bureau of Labor Statistics work stoppages publications are available from 1936 to 

1979 at www.bls.gov/wsp/wspfaq.htm#Question_10.

The Union Members – 2019 report is available at www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/union2.pdf.