Work stoppages at record low

Work stoppage numbers in 2010 were lower than in any other calendar year since the current statistics series started in 1986.

Figures published today by Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) show six work stoppages ended in the December quarter, taking the number for the year to 17.

The stoppages in the three months to December involved 709 employees, with 1135 person days of work lost, along with an estimated $243,000 in wages and salaries.

That was well down from the December 2009 quarter when there were 17 stoppages involving 7355 employees, and nearly 13,200 person days of work were lost, along with $2.2 million in wages and salaries.

The 17 stoppages in all of 2010 were 14 lower than a year earlier and included 11 complete strikes, five partial strikes and one lockout.

The stoppages involved 6394 employees, with 6285 person days and an estimated $1.1m in wages and salaries lost.

The 31 stoppages in 2009 involved 8951 employees, with losses of nearly 14,100 person days of work and an estimated $2.4m in wages and salaries.

- NZPA