Annual work stoppage numbers rose last year for the first time since 2005 but remained at low levels.Statistics New Zealand today said the 26 stoppages that ended in the December 2009 year was up from 23 in 2008, although its figures showed that last year
Annual work stoppage numbers rose last year for the first time since 2005 but remained at low levels.
Statistics New Zealand today said the 26 stoppages that ended in the December 2009 year was up from 23 in 2008, although its figures showed that last year still had the third-lowest number of annual stoppages since 1979 when there were 523.
The 8705 employees involved in work stoppages in 2009 were estimated to have lost $2.4 million in wages and salaries and 13,942 person-days of work.
Employee numbers and other details were confidential in 2008, but for other years since 2003 fewer employees than in 2009 were involved in three years and more twice. Wages and salaries lost was lower in two years, and person-days lost was also lower twice.
In the December quarter there were 12 stoppages, up from six in the September quarter, and the highest number since at least the June quarter of 2008.
Employees lost an estimated $2.18 million in the December quarter, when 13,051 person-days of work were lost -- both figures accounting for the bulk of the total for 2009 as a whole.
