Five Major Strikes, Lockouts Occurred In 2009, Fewest on Record Since 1947

The number of major work stoppages in the United States dropped to five in 2009, down from 15 the prior year and the fewest on record since 1947, the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Feb. 10.

The previous record low occurred in 2003, when 14 strikes or lockouts involving 1,000 workers or more were initiated, BLS said in an annual report. Major work stoppages have trended downward over the past three decades to an average of 20 strikes or lockouts per year during 2000-2009, down from an average of 35 per year during the 1990s and 83 ...