Eight Work Stoppages End In March Quarter

Work Stoppages: March 2001 Quarter

Eight work stoppages ended in the March 2001 quarter, according to latest figures from Statistics New Zealand. This is up from five recorded in each of the December 2000 and the March 2000 quarters. Six of the stoppages were complete strikes and the other two were lockouts.

The eight work stoppages involved 949 employees and resulted in the loss of 6,206 person-days of work. This is an average loss of 6.5 person-days of work per employee involved. There was an estimated loss of $0.9 million in wages and salaries in the March 2001 quarter.

In the December 2000 quarter, complete strikes accounted for all of the stoppages. Some 209 employees were involved in the five work stoppages, resulting in the loss of 441 person-days of work and an estimated $59,000 in wages and salaries.

Twenty-four stoppages ended in the March 2001 year. These involved 3,087 employees with the loss of 13,496 person-days of work and an estimated $2.7 million in wages and salaries. In comparison, 33 stoppages involving 9,483 employees ended in the March 2000 year, resulting in the loss of 17,045 person-days of work and an estimated $3.4 million in wages and salaries.

Thirteen private sector stoppages and 11 public sector stoppages ended in the March 2001 year. In the March 2000 year, 19 private sector stoppages and 14 public sector stoppages ended.

In the March 2001 year, seven work stoppages were recorded in both manufacturing and health and community services and three in government administration and defence. In all other industries combined there were seven stoppages. Work stoppages in manufacturing contributed 74 per cent of the total estimated $2.7 million loss in wages and salaries during the March 2001 year.

Brian Pink Government Statistician

END

© Scoop Media