The Work Stoppages Data from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada [HRSDC]: A Research Note

Abstract

As part of a research program on worker militancy, this note presents an overview of the data on work stoppages from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada [HRSDC] (previously Human Resources Development Canada [HRDC]) with reference to the 21261 strikes from 1966-2001. It unpacks the definitions embedded in 'work stoppage', considers how to group strikes by number of workers and duration, comments on the contract status and result variables, and discusses how strike issues are coded.Several themes emerge. The state's major interest in strikes relates to their economic impact, which is operationalized through 'person days lost'. A shift from 'person days lost', to worker militancy allows for revealing re-interpretations of the data which will help make visible the relevance of such stoppages to workers, unions and communities. Examining the HRSDC data in this new light also underscores the political nature of data collection (what is seen to be germane and not), and data presentation (what is made visible and what is concealed).