Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212

Information: (202) 691-6275 WorkStoppagesInfo@bls.gov USDL 08-0202 

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

Internet Address: http://www.bls.gov/wsp Wednesday, February 13, 2008 

MAJOR WORK STOPPAGES IN 2007 

Major work stoppages idled 189,000 workers for 1.3 million workdays in 2007, the U.S. Department of 

Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. In 2007, the largest major work stoppage in total days idle 

was between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the Writers Guild of America East 

and West, with 10,500 workers accounting for 409,500 lost workdays. The largest work stoppage in number of 

workers was between General Motors Corporation and the United Auto Workers, with 74,000 General Motors 

workers involved in the two day work stoppage. 

 

 There were 21 lockouts and strikes involving 1,000 or more workers in 2007. For 2006, there were 20 

stoppages involving 70,000 workers with 2.7 million workdays of idleness. (See table 1 and charts A-F.) Of the 

21 major work stoppages beginning in 2007, 12 were in private industry and nine were in State and local 

governments. In private industry, eight work stoppages occurred in goods-producing industries along with four 

in service-providing industries. Of the nine work stoppages in State and local governments, five were in 

transportation and warehousing and four were in educational services. In 2007, State and local government 

work stoppages accounted for just over one-third of total workers idled, but only 15 percent of lost workdays. 

 The mean length of a work stoppage in 2007 was 10.5 days, down from 26.5 days in 2006. Numerous 

work stoppages in 2007 were short in duration with six work stoppages lasting 2 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 2007, only days of 

idleness in calendar year 2007 are counted. 

 

 Table A. Duration of work stoppages beginning in 2007, 2006, and 2005 

Duration 2007 2006 2005 

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent 

1-2 days 6 29 5 25 4 18 

3-10 days 6 29 6 30 8 36 

11-30 days 7 33 6 30 6 27 

31-50 days 2 10 1 5 1 5 

>50 days 0 0 2 10 3 14 

 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 United States 

Department 

of Labor 
2

 Table B. Number of work stoppages by the number of workers idled in 2007, 2006, and 2005 

Number of workers 2007 2006 2005 

idled Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent 

1,000 to 1,999 8 38 10 50 11 50 

2,000 to 2,999 2 10 2 10 5 23 

3,000 to 4,999 4 19 3 15 2 9 

5,000 to 7,499 3 14 2 10 2 9 

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

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

20,000 or more 3 14 0 0 1 5 

 Note: Percent totals may not add to 100 because of rounding. 

 Table C. Number of work stoppages by number of work days idled in 2007, 2006, and 2005 

Number of days of 2007 2006 2005 

idleness Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent 

1,000 to 4,999 2 10 2 10 3 14 

5,000 to 9,999 3 14 5 25 4 18 

10,000 to 14,999 3 14 2 10 1 5 

15,000 to 19,999 3 14 2 10 4 18 

20,000 to 29,999 1 5 2 10 2 9 

30,000 to 49,999 4 19 2 10 2 9 

50,000 to 99,999 1 5 1 5 2 9 

100,000 to 299,999 3 14 2 10 2 9 

300,000 or more 1 5 2 10 2 9 

 Note: Percent totals may not add to 100 because of rounding. 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 lock-out and 

multiplying it by the number of days workers are off the job. 

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

Table 1. Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers, 1947-2007

Period

Number of

work

stoppages

beginning

in

period

Numbers of

workers

involved

(thousands)1

Days idle2

Number

(thousands)

Percent of

estimated

working time3

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

See footnotes at end of table.
4

Table 1. Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers, 1947-2007 — Continued

Period

Number of

work

stoppages

beginning

in

period

Numbers of

workers

involved

(thousands)1

Days idle2

Number

(thousands)

Percent of

estimated

working time3

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. 

Note: "Number of workers involved" in Table 1 reflects a

tabulation of workers involved in a work stoppage that

began in a specific year.
5

Table 2. Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers beginning in 2007

Organizations involved

 and location

Industry

code1

Beginning

date

Ending

date

Number of

workers2 Days idle

Harley-Davidson Motor Company

 York, PA,

 International Association of Machinists,

 Lodge 175

 Private Industry ........................................... 336900 2/02/07 2/22/07 2,800 39,200

Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Ingalls

Shipyard

 Pascagoula, MS,

 Pascagoula Metal Trades Council,

 International Brotherhood of Electrical

 Workers Local 733,

 Office and Professional Employees

 International Union Local 204,

 Special Police and Security Officers

 Local 655,

 Separate Division of the Machinists

 Private Industry ........................................... 336611 3/08/07 4/04/07 6,500 130,000

Community College of Philadelphia

 Philadelphia, PA,

 Faculty and Staff Federation of CCP

 Local 2026

 Local Government ...................................... 611210 3/13/07 3/27/07 1,300 14,300

National Fire Sprinkler Association

 Nationwide,

 Road Sprinkler Fitters Local 669

 Private Industry ........................................... 238220 4/01/07 4/16/07 3,000 33,000

Foundation Coal Holdings

 Waynesburg, PA,

 United Mine Workers

 Private Industry ........................................... 212112 4/04/07 4/13/07 1,200 9,600

Hayward School District

 Hayward, CA,

 The Hayward Education Association

 Local Government ...................................... 611110 4/05/07 4/25/07 1,300 19,500

Associated Wall and Ceiling Contractors of

Oregon and Southwest Washington, Inc.

 OR, WA,

 Pacific Northwest Regional

 Council of Carpenters

 Private Industry ........................................... 236220 6/01/07 6/19/07 1,200 15,600

National Electrical Contractors of America

 Puget Sound, WA,

 International Brotherhood of Electrical

 Workers Local 46

 Private Industry ........................................... 238210 6/01/07 6/01/07 2,800 2,800

Orange County Transportation Authority,

 CA,

 International Brotherhood of Teamsters

 Local 952

 Local Government ...................................... 485113 7/07/07 7/16/07 1,100 6,600

See footnotes at end of table.
6

Table 2. Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers beginning in 2007 — Continued

Organizations involved

 and location

Industry

code1

Beginning

date

Ending

date

Number of

workers2 Days idle

Harlem Consolidated Schools, District 122

 Machesney Park, IL,

 Harlem Federation of Teachers,

 Local 540

 Local Government ...................................... 611110 8/21/07 9/01/07 1,000 9,000

University of Minnesota

 Duluth, MN,

 American Federation of State, County and

 Municipal Employees Local 3801

 Local Government ...................................... 611310 9/05/07 9/21/07 3,100 40,300

Philadelphia Parking Authority

 Philadelphia, PA,

 Taxi Workers Alliance

 Local Government ...................................... 485310 9/05/07 9/06/07 1,200 1,200

New York City Taxi & Limousine

Commission

 New York, NY,

 Taxi Workers Alliance

 Local Government ...................................... 485310 9/05/07 9/07/07 26,000 52,000

General Motors Corporation

 Nationwide,

 United Auto Workers

 Private Industry ........................................... 336111 9/24/07 9/26/07 74,000 148,000

San Francisco Bay Area Security Officers

 CA,

 Service Employees International

 Union 24/7

 Private Industry ........................................... 561612 9/24/07 9/28/07 4,000 20,000

Sutter Hospitals

 CA,

 California Nurses Association

 Private Industry ........................................... 622110 10/10/07 10/12/07 5,000 15,000

New York City Taxi & Limousine

Commission

 New York, NY,

 Taxi Workers Alliance

 Local Government ...................................... 485310 10/22/07 10/23/07 33,000 33,000

International Truck and Engine Corporation

 OH, IN, IL, PA, GA, TX,

 United Auto Workers

 Private Industry ........................................... 336120 10/23/07 12/13/07 3,700 133,200

Alliance of Motion Picture and Television

Producers

 Nationwide,

 Writers Guild of America West,

 Writers Guild of America East

 Private Industry ........................................... 512110 11/05/07 ongoing 10,500 409,500

Paratransit Operators Coalition

 New York, NY,

 Amalgamated Transit Union

 Local 1181-1061

 Local Government ...................................... 485991 12/10/07 12/19/07 1,500 12,000

See footnotes at end of table.
7

Table 2. Work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers beginning in 2007 — Continued

Organizations involved

 and location

Industry

code1

Beginning

date

Ending

date

Number of

workers2 Days idle

Sutter Hospitals

 CA,

 California Nurses Association

 Private Industry ........................................... 622110 12/13/07 12/14/07 5,000 10,000

1 Industry code is from the 2002 NAICS (North American Industry Classification System). 2 The number of workers involved is rounded to the nearest 100. 
8

 Chart A. Number of major work stoppages in effect, by month, 2003-2007 

Number of work stoppages 

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

03 04 05 06 07 08

 Chart B. Number of workers involved in major work stoppages in effect, by month, 2003-2007 

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

03 04 05 06 07 08

 Chart C. Number of days of idleness from major work stoppages in effect, by month, 2003-2007 

Days of idleness 

(thousands) 

Number of workers 

(thousands) 

0

2

4

6

8

10

03 04 05 06 07 08
9

 

0

100

200

300

400

500

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

Chart D. Number of major work stoppages beginning in period, 1947-2007 

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

 Chart E. Number of workers involved in major work stoppages beginning in period, 1947-2007 

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

 Chart F. Number of days of idleness from major work stoppages beginning in period, 1947-2007 

Days of idleness 

(thousands)