AP: Fewer workers idled by strikes, lockouts in 2008

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/02/11/ap6040514.html

Associated Press, 02.11.09, 03:50 PM EST

As the U.S. financial crisis took hold last year, there were far fewer workers idled because of major work stoppages, according to new government data.

Major work stoppages idled 72,000 workers for nearly 2 million workdays in 2008, the Labor Department said Wednesday. In 2007, there were 189,000 workers idled for 1.3 million workdays.

There were 15 major lockouts and strikes involving 1,000 or more workers in 2008, compared to 21 in 2007.

The largest work stoppage last year in terms of total days idle and number of workers was between airplane maker and defense contractor Boeing Co. and the International Association of Machinists. According to the Labor Department, 27,000 workers were idled accounting for 1,053,000 lost workdays.

The longest work stoppage that began in 2008 was between American Axle & Manufacturing Inc. and the United Auto Workers International union. It lasted 63 days, according to the Labor Department. Another long stoppage, between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the Writers Guild of America, was in effect in 2008, but began in 2007. It lasted 68 days.

Of the 15 major work stoppages beginning in 2008, 12 were in private industry and three were in state and local government.

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