February 15, 2001 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

More workers involved in work stoppages in 2000

In 2000, 394,000 employees were involved in major work stoppages. This was up from just 73,000 in 1999.

[Chart data—TXT]

Two-thirds of the year's idled workers were involved in three major disputes. The largest stoppage in terms of workers idled involved 135,000 actors in commercials. The next largest involved 85,000 communication and electrical workers at Verizon Communications. The third largest was a one-day stoppage at Los Angeles County by 47,000 workers represented by the Service Employees International Union.

These data are a product of the BLS Office of Compensation and Working Conditions, Collective Bargaining Agreements. Learn more about work stoppages from news release USDL 01-41, "Major Work Stoppages, 2000." Major work stoppages are defined as strikes or lockouts that idle 1,000 or more workers and last at least one shift.