1997 Major Work Stoppages (Annual) — 1999-01-11

The number of major work stoppages dropped to a record low in 1997, the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Other measures of work stoppage activity were low by historical standards, although the number of workers idled by stoppages increased from a year ago. Twenty-nine major work stoppages began during 1997, idling 339,000 workers and resulting in about 4.5 million days of idleness (about 1 out of every 10,000 available work days). Comparable figures for 1996 were 37 stoppages, 273,000 workers idled, and 4.9 million days of idleness. (See table 1 and charts 1-3.) The 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 1997, 26 were in the private sector, and the remainder occurred in state and local government. In the private sector, 14 stoppages were in manufacturing industries, including 7 at General Motors Corp.