June 2002 Quarter Records 14 Work Stoppages

Fourteen work stoppages ended in the June 2002 quarter, according to latest figures from Statistics New Zealand. Thirteen stoppages in this quarter were complete strikes, while the other stoppage was a partial strike. The stoppages involved 1,427 employees with a loss of 4,510 person-days of work. This represents an average loss of 3.2 person-days of work. An estimated $538,000 was lost in wages and salaries.

In comparison, the March 2002 quarter recorded seven stoppages with 4,258 employees involved.

This resulted in a loss of 4,505 person-days of work and an estimated $798,000 in wages and salaries.

In the June 2002 year, there were 46 stoppages, which involved some 24,580 employees. There were losses of 55,850 person-days of work and an estimated $7.9 million in wages and salaries.

In comparison, 30 stoppages involving 4,077 employees ended in the June 2001 year. These resulted in losses of 9,939 person-days of work and an estimated $1.6 million in wages and salaries.

The manufacturing industry accounted for 18 of the 46 work stoppages ending in the June 2002 year. Six stoppages were recorded in education. The health and community services; and personal and other services group each recorded five. Four stoppages were recorded in the transport and storage group, and eight in all other industries combined. While manufacturing had the highest number of work stoppages, education recorded the highest number of employees involved, loss of person-days of work and loss of estimated wages and salaries. The education industry contributed about 57 percent of the total 24,580 employees involved.

Brian Pink Government Statistician

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