U.S. Workers’ strikes is at its highest point since 2000, with 4.1 million days lost in August to labor activism. Members of United Auto Workers have been striking since Friday. UAW strikes are just the latest in a wider trend of increased labor action across the U.S. Over 4.1 million working days were lost to U.S. workers strike in August, the highest in almost 25 years.
U.S. workers going on strike to settle labor disputes is at the highest rates in almost 25 years. This August due to labor strikes in the U.S. 4.1 million workdays were lost, according to analysis of Labor Department data by The Wall Street Journal.
Increasing U.S. workers strike
Compared to August, the monthly total of days lost due to U.S. workers strikes since 2000 has not even come close to half the level of this summer, never rising over 2 million.
The Hollywood writers and actors strike has fuelled the peak in lost workdays, but major strike action has also been ongoing across the transportation sector, the service industry, and in education.
The increased labor strikes in the U.S. comes as the rising cost of living has exacerbated the pressure of decades of stagnant wages. Frustrated as their companies make record profits and CEO and exec salaries rise, unions have been seeking higher pay and improved benefits and working conditions.
Labor strikes in the U.S. has had some success over the summer. UPS workers secured a five-year contract giving 340,000 employees a $2.75 hourly pay increase and heat safety protections, per NBC News.
Labor strikes in the U.S. trend to continue
In Hollywood, U.S. workers strike are ongoing as writers fight against changes to the industry created by the streaming revolution and seek greater protections against the encroachment of AI on their jobs.
The trend of greater union action is set to continue as UAW strikes grabbed headlines after announcing major strike action on Friday against the Detroit 3 automakers, General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis.
The UAW strikes for pay hike, which represents about 150,000 autoworkers, for failing to reach a new four-year labor agreement with the automakers. Unions are seeking significant pay increases, cost of living adjustments, a shorter work week, and the return of pensions.
Experts anticipate the historic UAW strikes could cost the automakers as much as $5 billion within just 10 days, but the strike is expected to last longer than that.
Public support for U.S. workers strike
Though U.S. workers strike increased across the country bring disruption and delays to services, public support for unions is also higher than in recent decades. In August, 67% of Americans said they approved of unions labor strikes in the U.S. in a Gallup poll, up from 54% in 2013.
