Take a look at some of the biggest strikes in America over the last couple years.
On Strike in America
Every month the Bureau of Labor Statistics collects data about American workers going on strike. They note the number of workers who strike, the start and end dates of the strike, and how many idle days the strike causes (that’s one day per worker on strike ... so if 300 workers strike for three days, that 900 idle days). What the BLS doesn’t note is the cause of the strike and the reason for its resolution. We had to do some digging for that information, and in some cases, the details remain a mystery. Now, the biggest strikes in America in the past couple years... Photo Credit: swanksalot
![Strikers: United Auto Workers Local 218 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Number of Workers Striking: 2,500 Duration: 6/15/09 - 7/22/09 Total Days Idle: 67,500 According to the Dallas Morning News, the contentious 6-week strike, which was initially sparked by increased health care costs and the proposed elimination of some unionized positions, ended rather abruptly. The paper reports that a new contract “gives raises of 3 percent in each of the last three years of the four-year contract instead of 3 percent raises in the final two years of a three-year deal Bell had offered, [UAW Local 218’s Gary] Livingston said. It also provides a signing bonus of $3,500 instead of $4,500. A group of janitorial workers who faced losing their jobs will get higher job classifications under the new deal. Also, health care costs will still rise but the most expensive option for employees was removed in the latest offer, he said.” Photo Credit: Aaron Escobar](https://www.thestreet.com/.image/c_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_face%2Ch_80%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_80/MTY4NjI1OTk5NDk5MzA2OTAz/bell-helicopter-textron-incorporated.jpg)
