2012 Major Work Stoppages (Annual) — 2013-02-08

In 2012, there were 19 major strikes and lockouts involving 1,000 or more workers and lasting at least one shift, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The 19 major work stoppages beginning in 2012 equaled the total from 2011. Major work stoppages beginning in 2012 idled 148,000 workers, higher than 2011 with 113,000 idled workers. In 2012, there were 1.13 million days idle from major work stoppages in effect, also higher than 2011 with 1.02 million days idle. (See charts 1 and 2, and table 1.) Over 40 percent (8 of 19) of major work stoppages beginning in 2012 occurred in November and December. (See table 2.) The largest work stoppage beginning in 2012 in terms of number of workers and total days idle was between the Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union, with 26,500 workers accounting for 185,500 days idle.