For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Thursday, February 9, 2017 USDL-17-0180

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

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

MAJOR WORK STOPPAGES IN 2016

In 2016, there were 15 major work stoppages involving 99,000 workers, the U.S. Bureau of Labor 

Statistics reported today. (See table 1.) Private industry organizations accounted for over 94 percent of

the 1.54 million total days idle for major work stoppages in effect during 2016.

This year marks 70 years of work stoppages data collected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over 

the past four decades (1977-1986 to 2007-2016) major work stoppages declined approximately 90 

percent. (See chart 1, table A, and table 1.) The period from 2007 to 2016 was the lowest decade on 

record, averaging approximately 14 major work stoppages per year. The lowest annual number of major 

work stoppages was 5 in 2009. 

In 2016, the information industry had the largest number of workers involved in major work stoppages 

with 38,200. Educational services were the next largest industry with 33,600 followed by health care and 

social assistance with 12,100 workers. (See chart 2.) These three industries accounted for over 84 percent 

of workers idled for major work stoppages. 

In 2016, the largest major work stoppage in terms of number of workers and days idle was between 

Verizon Communications and the Communication Workers of America union involving 36,500 workers. 

This work stoppage accounted for 1,204,500 total days idle. The second largest work stoppage in 2016 in 

days idle was between Allina Health and the Minnesota Nurses Association/National Nurses United 

union, involving 4,800 workers with 153,600 days idle from two different work stoppages that occurred 

during 2016. The City of Chicago Public Schools had a 1-day stoppage with the second most number of 

workers, involving 27,000 employees. 

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

1947-

1956

1957-

1966

1967-

1976

1977-

1986

1987-

1996

1997-

2006

2007-

2016

0

10

20

30

40

Information Educational

services

Health care and

social assistance

Chart 2. Workers involved in major work stoppages, 

in thousands, selected industry groups, 2016

Chart 1. Average number of annual major work 

stoppages by decade, 1947-2016
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Table A. Total number of major work stoppages by decade, 1947 to 2016

Years: 1947-1956 1957-1966 1967-1976 1977-1986 1987-1996 1997-2006 2007-2016

Number: 3,438 2,500 3,321 1,446 404 240 143

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 this publication.

Information on work stoppages is obtained from reports from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation 

Service, state labor market information offices, BLS Strike Report from the Office of Employment and 

Unemployment Statistics, and from 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 idle are 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 lost workdays 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 

www.bls.gov/wsp. 

Monthly time series data since 1981 have been published (https://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/surveymost?ws) 

for the following series:

• 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

Detailed historical data

Detailed data for each major work stoppage since 1993 are available at 

www.bls.gov/wsp/monthly_listing.htm. The major work stoppages historical data file includes the 

organization involved, location, beginning and ending work stoppage dates, the number of workers, and 

total days idle.

More information

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, 1947-2016

Period

Number of

work

stoppages

beginning

in

period

Numbers of

workers

involved

(thousands)1

Days idle2

Number

(thousands)

Percent of

estimated

working time3

2016 ............................................................ 15 99 1,543 4 ( )

2015 ............................................................ 12 47 740 4 ( )

2014 ............................................................ 11 34 200 4 ( )

2013 ............................................................ 15 55 290 4 ( )

2012 ............................................................ 19 148 1,131 4 ( )

2011 ............................................................ 19 113 1,020 4 ( )

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

See footnotes at end of table.

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Table 1. Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers, 1947-2016 — Continued

Period

Number of

work

stoppages

beginning

in

period

Numbers of

workers

involved

(thousands)1

Days idle2

Number

(thousands)

Percent of

estimated

working time3

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 stoppages 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 Percent of estimated working time is calculated using

employment estimates from the Current Employment

Statistics program and the number of workdays in the

month and number of days idle from the Work Stoppages

program. 4 Less than .005. 

5 Data not available. 

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Table 2. Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers beginning in 2016

Organizations involved,

 location, and sector

Industry

code1

Beginning

date

Ending

date

Number of

workers2 Days idle3

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and

New York Shipping Association, Inc.

 NJ and NY

 International Longshoremen’s Association

 (Local Government) ................................................................ 488310 1/29/16 1/29/16 1,000 1,000

Minneapolis-St. Paul Contract Cleaners Association

 Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN

 Service Employees International Union, Local 26

 (Private Industry) .................................................................... 561720 2/17/16 2/18/16 4,200 4,200

Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center

 Los Angeles, CA

 California Nurses Association/National Nurses United

 (Private Industry) .................................................................... 622110 3/15/16 3/21/16 1,200 6,000

City of Chicago Public School District

 Chicago, IL

 Chicago Teachers Union

 (Local Government) ................................................................ 611110 4/01/16 4/01/16 27,000 27,000

Verizon Communications Inc.

 East Coast States

 Communications Workers of America and

 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

 (Private Industry) .................................................................... 517110 4/13/16 5/27/16 36,500 1,204,500

Detroit Public Schools

 Detroit, MI

 American Federation of Teachers, Local 231

 (Local Govermnent) ................................................................ 611110 5/02/16 5/03/16 1,500 3,000

AT&T, Inc.

 San Diego, CA

 Communications Workers of America, Local 9509

 (Private Industry) .................................................................... 517110 5/19/16 5/25/16 1,700 6,800

Allina Health

 Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN

 Minnesota Nurses Association/National Nurses United

 (Private Industry) .................................................................... 622110 6/19/16 6/26/16 4,800 24,000

Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center

 Los Angeles, CA

 California Nurses Association/National Nurses United

 (Private Industry) .................................................................... 622110 6/23/16 6/27/16 1,300 2,600

San Joaquin County

 San Joaquin County, CA

 Service Employees International Union, Local 1021

 (Local Government) ................................................................ 921100 7/05/16 7/07/16 2,600 7,800

Painting and Decorating Foundation

 St. Louis, MO

 International Union of Painters and Allied Trades,

 District Council 58

 (Private Industry) .................................................................... 238320 9/01/16 10/02/16 1,400 4,200

Allina Health

 Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN

 Minnesota Nurses Association/National Nurses United

 (Private Industry) .................................................................... 622110 9/05/16 10/13/16 4,800 129,600

See footnotes at end of table.

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Table 2. Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers beginning in 2016 — Continued

Organizations involved,

 location, and sector

Industry

code1

Beginning

date

Ending

date

Number of

workers2 Days idle3

Contra Costa County

 Contra Costa County, CA

 Service Employees International Union, Local 1021

 (Local Government) ................................................................ 921100 9/30/16 10/07/16 1,100 6,600

Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education

 Statewide PA

 The Association of Pennsylvania State College and

 University Faculties

 (State Government) ................................................................ 611310 10/19/16 10/21/16 5,100 15,300

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority

 Philadelphia, PA

 Transport Workers Union, Local 234

 (Local Government) ................................................................ 485111 11/01/16 11/07/16 5,200 26,000

1 Industry code is from the 2012 NAICS (North American Industry Classification System). 2 The number of workers involved is rounded to the nearest 100.

3 Days idle includes all stoppages in effect during the calendar year. For work stoppages beginning in a prior year, days idle are counted for

current calendar year totals but not listed in this table.

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