February 28, 2007 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Fewer workers idled by work stoppages in 2006

Major work stoppages idled 70,000 workers in 2006, a decline from the number of workers involved in major work stoppages in 2005.

Number of workers idled by major work stoppages, 1996-2006
[Chart data—TXT]

There were 99,600 workers involved in major work stoppages in 2005.

A total of 20 major work stoppages—lockouts or strikes—began in calendar year 2006. For 2005 there were 22 stoppages.

Of the 20 major work stoppages beginning in 2006, 12 were in private industry and eight were in State and local governments.

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.