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The number of workers involved in work stoppages jumped in the September quarter compared to the previous six months, figures from Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) show.
Data published yesterday shows five stoppages ended during the three months to September, involving 2309 employees with 7568 work days lost, along with $1.3 million in wages and salaries. Although there were also five stoppages in the June quarter and eight in the three months to March, only 354 and 544 workers respectively were involved, with the number of work days lost about the same as the number of employees involved.
The September quarter included the nine-day lockout of about 800 Spotless orderlies, cooks and cleaners, until the Employment Court ruled the lockouts illegal.
In the year to September, 29 stoppages ended, involving 6979 employees, with the loss of 16,678 work days and an estimated $2.9 million in wages and salaries. That compared with 50 stoppages in the September 2006 year involving 12,585 employees, a loss of 26,462 work days and $4.7 million of income.
From annual levels of more than 400 in the late-1970s, the number of work stoppages had declined to below 100 since the 1990s, SNZ said.
In the year to September both the manufacturing, and health and community services industries had nine stoppages each. Health and community services accounted for half the workers involved.
- NZPA
