For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Wednesday, February 8, 2012 USDL-12-0215 

Technical information: (202) 691-6275 • Workstoppagesinfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/wsp 

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

MAJOR WORK STOPPAGES IN 2011

In 2011, there were 19 major strikes and lockouts involving 1,000 or more workers and lasting at least 

one shift, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The 19 major work stoppages in 2011 

idled 113,000 workers for 1.02 million lost workdays, a large increase compared to 2010 with 11 major 

work stoppages idling 45,000 workers for 302,000 lost workdays. In 2009, there were record lows of 5 

major work stoppages idling 13,000 workers for 124,000 lost workdays. (See table 1.) 

The longest work stoppage beginning in 2011 was between American Crystal Sugar Company and the 

Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers, Sugar Council. The ongoing work 

stoppage began in August and has lasted throughout the remainder of 2011 (105 workdays) with 1,300 

workers accounting for 136,500 lost workdays. The largest work stoppage in 2011 in terms of number of 

workers and total workdays idle was between Verizon Communications and the Communications 

Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, with 45,000 workers 

accounting for 450,000 lost workdays. (See table 2.) 

This release includes information for the work stoppage between the National Football League (NFL) 

and the NFL Players Association. The work stoppage between the National Basketball Association 

(NBA) and the NBA Players Association involved fewer than 1,000 workers and is therefore not part of 

this data series. 

Chart 2. Annual days idle from major work stoppages, 

2004-2011, in millions 

Chart 1. Annual major work stoppages, 2004-2011 
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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, 1947-2011

Period

Number of

work

stoppages

beginning

in

period

Numbers of

workers

involved

(thousands)1

Days idle2

Number

(thousands)

Percent of

estimated

working time3

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

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

See footnotes at end of table.

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Table 1. Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers, 1947-2011 — Continued

Period

Number of

work

stoppages

beginning

in

period

Numbers of

workers

involved

(thousands)1

Days idle2

Number

(thousands)

Percent of

estimated

working time3

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. 

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Table 2. Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers beginning in 2011

Organizations involved,

 location, and sector

Industry

code1

Beginning

date

Ending

date

Number of

workers2 Days idle

Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center

 Los Angeles, CA

 National Union of Healthcare Workers

 (Private Industry) .................................................................... 622110 3/2/11 3/2/11 1,000 1,000

Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric &

 Hawaii Electric Light Company

 Hawaii

 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

 Local 1260

 (Private Industry) ..................................................................... 221112 3/4/11 3/7/11 1,300 2,600

Washington Hospital Center

 Washington, D.C.

 National Nurses United

 (Private Industry) .................................................................... 622110 3/4/11 3/8/11 1,100 3,300

National Football League

 Nationwide

 National Football League Players Association

 (Private Industry) .................................................................... 711211 3/12/11 7/25/11 1,900 178,600

Plumbing and Piping Industry Council Inc. dba

 Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association

 Tualatin, OR

 United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 290

 (Private Industry) .................................................................... 238220 4/11/11 4/25/11 1,500 16,500

General Building Contractors Association,

 Philadelphia, PA & DE Area

 Metropolitan Regional Council of Carpenters of Philadelphia

 & Vicinity Council

 (Private Industry) .................................................................... 236220 5/4/11 5/12/11 3,000 21,000

Interior Finish Contractors Association

 Philadelphia, PA Area

 Metropolitan Regional Council of Carpenters of Philadelphia

 & Vicinity Council

 (Private Industry) .................................................................... 236220 5/4/11 5/12/11 2,500 17,500

Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center

 Los Angeles, CA

 National Union of Healthcare Workers

 (Private Industry) .................................................................... 622110 5/18/11 5/18/11 2,000 2,000

Mason Contractors Association

 St. Louis, MO

 Bricklayers Local 1

 (Private Industry) .................................................................... 238140 6/1/11 7/20/11 1,000 35,000

Mechanical Contractors Association of Kansas City

 Kansas City, MO

 Pipefitters Local 533

 (Private Industry) .................................................................... 238220 6/1/11 6/8/11 1,500 9,000

Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors’

 Association of Milwaukee

 Milwaukee, WI

 United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 601

 (Private Industry) .................................................................... 238220 6/30/11 7/22/11 2,500 40,000

See footnotes at end of table.

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Table 2. Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers beginning in 2011 — Continued

Organizations involved,

 location, and sector

Industry

code1

Beginning

date

Ending

date

Number of

workers2 Days idle

American Crystal Sugar Company

 MN, IA, ND

 Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers,

 Sugar Council

 (Private Industry) .................................................................... 311313 8/1/11 ongoing 1,300 136,500

Verizon Communications

 East Coast States

 Communications Workers of America &

 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

 (Private Industry) .................................................................... 517110 8/7/11 8/20/11 45,000 450,000

Hyatt Hotels

 IL,CA, HI

 UNITE-HERE Locals 1,2,5,11

 (Private Industry) .................................................................... 721110 9/8/11 9/14/11 3,000 15,000

City of Tacoma

 Tacoma, WA

 Tacoma Teachers Association

 (Local Government) ................................................................ 611110 9/13/11 9/22/11 1,900 15,200

Sutter Hospitals, Kaiser Permanente Hospitals,

 Children’s Hospital and Research Center

 CA

 California Nurses Association/National Nurses United,

 National Union of Healthcare Workers &

 International Union of Operating Engineers Local 39

 (Private Industry) .................................................................... 622110 9/22/11 9/22/11 29,000 29,000

Sutter Hospitals, Children’s Hospital and Research Center

 CA

 California Nurses Association/National Nurses United

 (Private Industry) .................................................................... 622110 9/23/11 9/26/11 6,000 12,000

Cooper Tire and Rubber Company

 Findlay, Ohio

 United Steel Workers Local 207L

 (Private Industry) .................................................................... 326211 11/28/11 ongoing 1,000 24,000

Sutter Hospitals, Memorial Care Hospitals

 Los Angeles Area, San Francisco Bay Area, CA

 California Nurses Association/National Nurses United

 (Private Industry) .................................................................... 622110 12/22/11 12/23/11 6,000 12,000

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. 

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