2001 Major Work Stoppages (Annual) — 2002-03-22

The number of days idle and the percent of estimated working time lost because of strikes and lockouts were at historic lows in 2001, the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Twenty-nine major work stoppages began during the year, idling 99,000 workers and resulting in 1.2 million workdays of idleness (less than 1 out of every 10,000 available workdays). Comparable figures for 2000 were 39 stoppages, 394,000 workers idled, and 20.4 million days of idleness. (See table 1 and charts 1-3.) The major work stoppage series, which dates back to 1947, covers strikes and lockouts involving 1,000 workers or more and lasting at least one shift. Of the 29 major work stoppages beginning in 2001, 24 were in the private sector; the remainder occurred in State and local government. In the private sector, 13 stoppages occurred in goods-producing industries, including 8 in construction.