Large U.S. Union Work Stoppages Continue into 2019

Following a big increase last year, the number of large strikes in the U.S. continues to rise, with 15 in just the first half of 2019.

Strikes are Back?

In a widely recognized sign of a reviving labor movement, the number of large work stoppages in 2018 rose dramatically and was the largest in many years.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publishes the list of large work stoppages that begin each year, defined as either strikes or lockouts of at least 1,000 workers for at least one shift, and the list has mostly strikes. The work stoppage numbers have fallen dramatically in recent decades, from a high of 470 in 1952 to a low of 5 in 2009 and only 7 in 2017. This huge decrease in large strikes is a key indicator of the decline of the labor movement, along with the shrinking union membership rate.

But last year the number was up sharply to 20, involving nearly 500,000 workers. As the BLS reported earlier this year:

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).

Strikes Continue into 2019

A major question is whether 2018 was unique or was this the beginning of a sustained upsurge in strike activity that would…