Nineteen Work Stoppages End in September Quarter

Work Stoppages: September 2001 quarter

Nineteen Work Stoppages End in September Quarter

Nineteen work stoppages ended in the September 2001 quarter, according to latest figures from Statistics New Zealand. All stoppages in this quarter were complete strikes. The number of stoppages is the highest since the December 1996 quarter.

In the September 2001 quarter, there were 3,948 employees involved in the 19 stoppages, resulting in a loss of 23,440 person-days of work. This is an average loss of 5.9 person-days of work per employee involved. There was an estimated $3.0 million lost in wages and salaries. In the previous quarter (June 2001), there were nine stoppages with 2,178 employees involved. These resulted in a loss of 1,399 person-days of work and an estimated $206,000 in wages and salaries.

Forty-one stoppages ended in the September 2001 year. These involved 7,284 employees with a loss of 31,487 person-days of work and an estimated $4.3 million in wages and salaries. In comparison, 26 stoppages involving 7,376 employees ended in the September 2000 year, resulting in a loss of 18,848 person-days of work and an estimated $4.5 million in wages and salaries.

Thirty private sector stoppages and 11 public sector stoppages ended in the September 2001 year, compared with 10 private sector and 16 public sector stoppages in the previous September year.

In the September 2001 year, 18 work stoppages were recorded in the manufacturing industry group. Property and business services recorded four stoppages, while wholesale and retail trade; transport, storage and communication services; health and community services; and personal and other services each recorded three stoppages. Seven stoppages were recorded in all other industries combined. Work stoppages in the manufacturing industry contributed 67 percent of the total estimated $4.3 million loss in wages and salaries during the September 2001 year.

Brian Pink Government Statistician END

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