The diminishing risk of union strikes

Looking at the latest annual release of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Major Work Stoppages report, it’s a wonder workers unions hold any sway over politics or policy these days.

Certainly, as the data shows, union strikes and lockouts are no longer posing any functional risk to private industry. (Click here for a larger image of the chart.)

For the full year 2009, there were only five major strikes (strikes affecting 1000 or more workers) three of which consisted of state and local government workers with the other two affecting only 4000 private workers over relatively short periods resulting in a total of 73,500 idle work days.

Although this is by far the lowest number of major work stoppages on record, looking back at the trend of the last 25 years, the result is not very surprising.

Of course, it’s important to consider the fact that many of the jobs traditionally associated to the periods of greater union activity seen between the 40s – 70s essentially don’t exist anymore.

Add/view comments on this post.

------------------------------

The Christian Science Monitor has assembled a diverse group of the best economy-related bloggers out there. Our guest bloggers are not employed or directed by the Monitor and the views expressed are the bloggers' own, as is responsibility for the content of their blogs. To contact us about a blogger, click here. To add or view a comment on a guest blog, please go to the blogger's own site by clicking on the link above.