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Work Stoppages
Bureau of Labor Statistics > Work Stoppages > About > Questions and Answers

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

On this Page:

  1. What is a work stoppage?

    A work stoppage is a strike or a lockout. See concepts within the Handbook of Methods for more information on work stoppage terms.

  2. What is a strike?

    A strike is a temporary stoppage of work by a group of workers (not necessarily union members) to express a grievance or enforce a demand. A strike is initiated by the workers of an establishment. See concepts within the Handbook of Methods for more information on work stoppage terms.

  3. What is a lockout?

    A lockout is a temporary withholding or denial of employment during a labor dispute in order to enforce terms of employment upon a group of employees. A lockout is initiated by the management of an establishment. See concepts within the Handbook of Methods for more information on work stoppage terms.

  4. What data does the BLS supply on work stoppages?

    The Work Stoppages program provides monthly and annual data and analysis of major work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers lasting one full shift or longer. The monthly and annual data show the establishment and union(s) involved in the work stoppage along with the location, the number of workers, and the days of idleness. The monthly data lists all work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers that occurred during the full calendar month for each month of the year. The annual data provides statistics, analysis, and details of each work stoppage of 1,000 or more workers that occurred during the year. See concepts within the Handbook of Methods for more information on work stoppage terms.

  5. What are the differences or similarities between the BLS work stoppages and the BLS strike report?

    The work stoppages program reference period is the entire calendar month whereas the strike report reference period is the pay period that includes the 12th of the month. The BLS strike report includes strikes that cover 1,000 or more workers, the same as the work stoppages program.

  6. How are "work days" defined?

    Work days are defined as the weekdays Monday through Friday excluding Federal holidays. More information on work stoppage terms and concepts are available at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/wsp/home.htm.

  7. How are "days idle this month" defined?

    The term "days idled this month" is the total number of working days lost during the work stoppage in the month multiplied by the number of workers participating in the work stoppage. See concepts within the Handbook of Methods for more information on work stoppage terms.

  8. How are "days idle, cumulative" defined?
  9. Where do I find data on work stoppages with less than 1,000 workers?
  10. How can I get historical information?
  11. How are the data collected?
  12. Do you have foreign work stoppage information?
  13. What has happened to the BLS collective bargaining agreements program?
  14. >How do I get union membership data?
  15. How do I get Labor Management (LM) forms?
  16. How do I get prevailing wage data under the Davis-Bacon Act?

How are "days idle, cumulative" defined?

"Days idle, cumulative" is the total number of working days lost multiplied by the number of workers occurring over the entire span of the work stoppage, often over a period of months. See concepts within the Handbook of Methods for more information on work stoppage terms.

Where do I find data on work stoppages with less than 1,000 workers?

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) issues a monthly report showing all private industry work stoppages.

How can I get historical information?

The BLS has data available from 1993 to the present for major work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers. A worksheet containing these data is available at www.bls.gov/web/wkstp/monthly-listing.htm.

Limited data back to 1947 are included in an annual historical table at www.bls.gov/web/wkstp/annual-listing.htm.

The publications linked below include detailed information on work stoppages from 1936 to 1980:

 

The St. Louis Federal Reserve also maintains an archive page with additional work stoppages publications, see fraser.stlouisfed.org/title/3965.

How are the data collected?

Information on work stoppages is obtained from reports from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, state labor market information offices, BLS Strike Report from the Office of Employment and Unemployment Statistics, and from media sources. Parties involved in the work stoppage (employer, association, union) are contacted to verify the duration and number of workers idled by the stoppage.

Do you have foreign work stoppage information?

No, the BLS does not publish foreign work stoppage statistics.

The International Labor Organization (ILO) publishes foreign work stoppage statistics. Data are available from the ILO at www.ilo.org/global/lang--en/index.htm

What has happened to the BLS collective bargaining agreements program?

The collective bargaining agreements have been transferred to the Department of Labor.

How do I get union membership data?

The Current Population Survey publishes an annual union members summary.

How do I get Labor Management (LM) forms?

The Labor Management forms are available online through the Department of Labor’s Office of Labor Management and Standards (OLMS) website.

How do I get prevailing wage data under the Davis-Bacon Act?

Prevailing wage determinations for contracts subject to the Davis Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA) or McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) should be obtained using the Wage Determinations Online program. The DBRA cover federal, District of Columbia, or federally assisted construction contracts. The SCA applies to federal and District of Columbia service contracts. Both programs are administered by the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor. More details about the DBRA are available from the DBRA home page; additional information about the SCA can be found on the SCA website.

 

Last Modified Date: April 30, 2020