March 08, 2007 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Days of idleness due to major work stoppages up in 2006

Major work stoppages resulted in 2.7 million lost workdays in 2006. The number of workdays lost increased by 1 million over the corresponding 2005 figure.

Number of workdays of idleness due to major work stoppages, 2001-06 (thousands)
[Chart data—TXT]

The largest work stoppage in 2006 in terms of idleness was between Northwest Airlines and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, with 812,100 workdays lost in 2006 and 1,183,800 workdays lost in total since the work stoppage began on August 20, 2005. 

The second largest work stoppage in terms of idleness, and the largest in terms of worker participation with 12,600 employees involved, was between the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and the United Steelworkers of America, with 718,000 days idled in 2006.

These data are from the BLS Collective Bargaining Agreements Program. Learn more about work stoppages from "Major Work Stoppages in 2006" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 07-0304. Major work stoppages are defined as strikes or lockouts that idle 1,000 or more workers and last at least one shift.

 

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