Major Work Stoppages in 2002

by Michael H. Cimini

Originally Posted: April 28, 2003

In 2002, all measures of work stoppage activity were at or near historic lows. The number of major work stoppages (strikes and lockouts involving 1,000 or more workers) dropped from 29 in 2001 to 19 in 2002, and was slightly higher than the historic low recorded in 1999 (17 stoppages). The number of workers idled (46,000), days of idleness (660,000), and percent of estimated working time lost (less than 0.005 percent) all were at historic lows.

Almost one-half of the year’s days of idleness stemmed from three stoppages:

• A 13-day dispute between Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (129,500 days)
  
  
• A 49-day dispute between Lockheed Martin Corporation and the International Association of Machinists (101,500 days)
  
  
• A 44-day dispute between the Hershey Food Corporation and the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (84,000 days)

The average length of work stoppages beginning in 2002 was 21 days, and nearly three-fourths of all work stoppages lasted 30 days or less. The longest work stoppage was a 51-day dispute between three Queens, New York bus lines and the Transport Workers Union, which also was the only dispute during the year that lasted more than 50 days.