2003 Major Work Stoppages (Annual) — 2004-03-19

The number of workers idled, the number of days of idleness, and the percent of estimated working time lost because of strikes and lockouts rose in 2003, but were still low by historical standards, the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Fourteen major work stoppages began during the year, idling 129,200 workers and resulting in 4.1 million workdays of idleness (about 1 out of every 10,000 available workdays). Comparable figures for 2002 were 19 stoppages, 46,000 workers idled, and 660,000 days of idleness. (See table 1 and charts A-C.) The major work stoppages series, which dates back to 1947, covers strikes and lockouts involving 1,000 workers or more and lasting at least one shift. For work stoppages that are still ongoing at the end of the calendar year, only those days of idleness in the calendar year are counted.