Work Stoppages Decline: The number of major...

Work Stoppages Decline: The number of major work stoppages in the United States and the number of workers involved in them last year fell to its lowest point since record-keeping started in 1947, the Labor Department reported. The amount of work time lost to work stoppages--strikes or lockouts involving at least 1,000 workers for more than one shift--also fell to a record low in 1988, the department said. Although contracts were renegotiated in several large industries, including construction, apparel, trucking and public utilities, only 40 major work stoppages occurred last year, the department said. The previous record low was 46 in 1987, it said.