Stoppage Numbers Fall In March 2000 Quarter

Stoppage Numbers Fall In March 2000 Quarter

Five work stoppages ended in the March 2000 quarter latest figures from Statistics New Zealand show. This compares with 10 in the previous quarter and four in the same quarter last year. Complete strikes accounted for four of the stoppages. The other stoppage was a partial strike.

Some 494 employees were involved in work stoppages in the March 2000 quarter. The five work stoppages resulted in the loss of 4,206 person-days of work, with an average loss of 8.5 person-days of work per employee involved. There was an estimated $0.5 million lost in wages and salaries. These indicators were all down on the previous quarter.

March is traditionally a quiet quarter for work stoppages. However, while only 494 employees were involved in work stoppages in the quarter, they were involved for longer periods on average. The average loss of 8.5 person-days of work per employee involved in the March 2000 quarter is the highest since the December 1992 quarter (11.5 days per employee).

The March 2000 year recorded a continued downward trend in work stoppages apparent since the end of the 1970s. There were 33 stoppages that ended in the year to March 2000. These involved 9,483 employees with losses of 17,045 person-days of work and an estimated $3.4 million in wages and salaries. In comparison, 34 work stoppages ended in the year to March 1999. These involved 16,258 employees with losses of 13,960 person-days of work and $2.1 million in wages and salaries.

In the March 2000 year, there were seven work stoppages recorded in both the manufacturing and education industries; six were in transport, storage and communication services; and five were in health and community services. The remaining eight were in all other industries combined. Work stoppages in transport, storage and communication services contributed over 60 per
cent of the estimated loss in wages and salaries in the March 2000 year.

Paul Brown
ACTING DEPUTY GOVERNMENT STATISTICIAN
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