February 12, 2001 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Increase in work stoppages in 2000

There were 39 major work stoppages in 2000, up from only 17 in 1999.

[Chart data—TXT]

Of the major work stoppages beginning in 2000, 31 were in the private sector; the remainder occurred in State and local government. In the private sector, 14 stoppages occurred in goods-producing industries and 17 occurred in service-producing industries. In the public sector, 4 of the 8 stoppages were in education. 

The largest work stoppage beginning in 2000 involved the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the Screen Actors Guild, representing 135,000 actors working in radio and television commercials, who went on strike against the Association of National Advertisers and the American Association of Advertising Agencies. 

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.