The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor is the principal Federal agency responsible for measuring labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy.
For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Friday, February 8, 2019
USDL-19-0189
Technical information:
(202) 691-6199 • workstoppagesinfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/wsp
Media contact:
(202) 691-5902 • pressoffice@bls.gov
MAJOR WORK STOPPAGES IN 2018
In 2018, there were 20 major work stoppages involving 485,000 workers, the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics reported today. The number of major work stoppages beginning in 2018 was the highest since
2007 (21 major work stoppages). The number of workers involved was the highest since 1986 (533,000
workers). (See chart 1 and www.bls.gov/web/wkstp.supp.toc.htm.)
Educational services and health care and social assistance industry groups accounted for over 90 percent
of all workers idled in 2018. (See chart 1.) Between 2009 and 2018 the educational services and health
care and social assistance industries accounted for nearly one half of all major work stoppages. (See
charts 1 and 2 and www.bls.gov/web/wkstp.supp.toc.htm.)
In 2018, the largest work stoppage by days idle was between the Arizona State Legislature and Arizona
Education Association and involved 81,000 teachers and staff totaling 486,000 days of idleness. The
second largest stoppage in 2018 involved the Oklahoma State Legislature and the Oklahoma Education
Association accounting for 405,000 days idle. Statewide major work stoppages in educational services
also occurred in West Virginia, Kentucky, Colorado, and North Carolina. (See
www.bls.gov/web/wkstp.supp.toc.htm.)
The longest major work stoppage beginning in 2018 involved National Grid and the United Steelworkers
Locals 12003 and 12012 accounting for 156,000 days idle in the current year. The National Grid work
stoppage began on June 25, 2018 and was ongoing thru 2018. Other notable major work stoppages
beginning in 2018 involved the Marriott Corporation and the University of California Medical Centers.
Chart 2. Number of major work stoppages, by
major industry group, 2009-18
Chart 1. Number of workers in