2023 Was a Boom Year for Major Strikes

Author: Robert S. Teachout, Brightmine Legal Editor

March 4, 2024

A record number of major work stoppages last year illustrates the increase in union strength and influence in recent years.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that there were 33 major work stoppages in 2023, the largest number since 2000 when there were 39 stoppages.  BLS defines a major work stoppage as one that involves 1,000 or more workers and lasts at least one shift during the work week. The work stoppages represent a 44 percent increase over the 23 stoppages in 2022.

When viewed in terms of the number of workers involved, the increase is even more dramatic. While 120,600 workers were idled in 2022, the number of idled workers in 2023 nearly tripled to 458,900 - a 280 percent leap.  

Notable stoppages included the United Autoworkers strikes and the Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA actors strikes. Service industries accounted for 87 percent of idled workers, led by the health and education sectors and then the information sector. Manufacturing accounted for 13 percent of idled workers.

Over the last 20 years (2004-2023), there have been an average of 16.7 major work stoppages each year. BLS does not differentiate between strikes and lockouts for purposes of this report, but strikes are by far more common.

The increase in the number of strikes and participants indicates the growing influence and positive outlook for unions:

  • Petitions for union elections increased by 3 percent in 2023, on top of a 53 percent spike in petitions in 2022.
  • Unions also experienced a 73 percent win rate - the highest in decades.
  • Union membership also continues to increase significantly, with 191,000 new members in the private sector in 2023 (although the expanding workforce overall results in a unionization rate of only 10 percent).

Even with the many strikes, public opinion about unions remains high, with 67 percent saying they have a positive view of unions in 2023, down from 71 percent in 2022 but well above the historic low of 48 percent in 2009.