March 12, 2003 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Fewer major work stoppages in 2002

There were 19 major work stoppages that began in 2002, down from 29 in 2001.

[Chart data—TXT]

Of the major work stoppages beginning in 2002, 16 were in private industry and three were in state and local government. In private industry, the largest number of stoppages (five) occurred in the manufacturing sector, the construction sector (three) and the transportation and warehousing sector (three). In state and local government, two stoppages were in education services and one was in public administration.

These data are from the BLS Collective Bargaining Agreements program.  Learn more about work stoppages from news release USDL 03-100, "Major Work Stoppages in 2002." Major work stoppages are defined as strikes or lockouts that idle 1,000 or more workers and last at least one shift.