Major work stoppages rose slightly in 2004

By Steve Bates

The number of major work stoppages in the United States rose slightly in 2004, as did the number of workers idled by lockouts and strikes, according to new data from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). <snip>

About 102,000 CWA employees in 13 states walked off the job for four days in May 2004 before reaching tentative agreement on a new five-year contract. About 85 percent of union members who voted eventually supported the new contract, which includes pay raises and bonuses but requires workers to make higher co-payments for medical services and prescription drugs. <snip>

The second largest work stoppage in 2004 came in a dispute involving Albertsons, Ralphs Grocery Co., Vons and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW). It idled 61,300 workers, BLS reports.

Three of the 17 major work stoppages last year involved state and local governments. Two were in the transportation and warehousing sector and one was in the health care and social assistance sector. About 19,000 local government workers in New York City were idled in a dispute between the city’s Home Health Care Agencies and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), making it the third-largest work stoppage of the year. <snip>

http://www.shrm.org/hrnews_published/CMS_012129.asp

...lots of strikes and threats to strike going on.