Twenty-two work stoppages ended in the December 2008 year, nine fewer than the number ending in the December 2007 year.
ANZISC 2006
This is the first publication of Work Stoppages that uses the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification 2006 (ANZSIC 2006) which updates the 1996 version of this classification. There is expected to be little impact on the publication, due to the low number of stoppages each quarter. Note that industry outputs defined using ANZSIC 2006 are not directly comparable with those based on ANZSIC1996.
For more information about ANZSIC 2006 go to the Statistics New Zealand website (www.stats.govt.nz).
Annual comparison
The 22 work stoppages that ended in the year to December 2008 consisted of 18 complete strikes, four partial strikes, and zero lockouts. They involved 4,993 employees, and losses of 8,587 person-days of work and an estimated $2.4 million in wages and salaries.
In comparison, the 31 stoppages that ended in the December 2007 year involved 4,090 employees, and losses of 11,439 person-days of work and an estimated $1.9 million in wages and salaries.
| Annual Work Stoppages |
| December year |
Number of stoppages |
Number of employees involved |
Person-days of work lost |
Estimated loss in wages and salaries $(million) |
| 2006 |
42 |
10,079 |
27,983 |
5.2 |
| 2007 |
31 R |
4,090 R |
11,439 R |
1.9 R |
| 2008 |
22 |
4,993 |
8,587 |
2.4 |
R revised
Average losses in person-days of work per employee decreased from the December 2007 year, however average losses in wages and salaries per employee increased over the same period. In the December 2008 year, an average of 1.7 person-days of work and $474 in wages and salaries were lost per employee. This compares with 2.8 person-days of work, and $466 in wages and salaries lost per employee in the December 2007 year.
| Average Annual Loss per Employee Involved |
| December year |
Person-days of work lost per employee |
Loss in wages and salaries per employee ($) |
| 2006 |
2.8 |
517 |
| 2007 |
2.8 |
466 |
| 2008 |
1.7 |
474 |
Industry distribution of stoppages
The manufacturing industry and the transport, postal and warehousing industry had the highest number of stoppages in the December 2008 year, with four stoppages each (total of 36 percent of all stoppages). The health care and social assistance industry had the highest loss in wages and salaries (88 percent of the total).
---PDF BREAK---
Industry Distribution of Work Stoppages
Year ending December 2008 |
| Industry group |
Number of stoppages |
| Manufacturing |
4 |
| Transport, postal and warehousing |
4 |
| Health care and social assistance |
3 |
| All other industries combined |
11 |
| Total all industries |
22 |
Note: The 'All other industries combined' group covers: mining; electricity, gas and water services; construction; wholesale trade; retail trade and accommodation; information, media and telecommunications; professional, scientific and technical services; administrative and support services; public administration and safety; education and training; arts, recreation and other services.
Sector distribution of stoppages
Ten public sector stoppages ended in the December 2008 year, up from the December 2007 year when there were eight public sector stoppages. Twelve private sector stoppages ended in the December 2008 year, down from 23 for the December 2007 year.
Public sector stoppages that ended in the December 2008 year involved 3,480 employees, and losses of 6,696 person-days of work and an estimated $2.1 million in wages and salaries. Private sector stoppages involved 1,513 employees, and losses of 1,891 person-days of work and an estimated $0.2 million in wages and salaries.
Resolution of stoppages
The underlying dispute was resolved in 12 of the 22 stoppages that ended in the December 2008 year. Five of these were resolved through negotiation between the employer and employee or their representatives. Five stoppages were resolved through mediation services provided by the Department of Labour. The remaining two stoppages were resolved through mediation provided by a private provider.
Ten work stoppages that ended in the December 2008 year did not have the underlying dispute resolved.
---PDF BREAK---
Revision
The September 2008 quarter data has been revised after receiving additional information. Figures for the number of work stoppages, number of employees, loss of person-days of work, and loss in wages and salaries have all been revised upwards.
| Revisions |
| |
September 2008 quarter |
September 2008 year |
| Main indicator |
Published |
Revised |
Published |
Revised |
| Number of stoppages |
4 |
5 |
29 |
30 |
| Number of employees |
251 |
551 |
5,101 |
5,401 |
| Person-days lost |
93 |
480 |
10,393 |
10,781 |
| Wages and salaries lost ($000) |
12 |
62 |
2,651 |
2,702 |
Quarterly comparison
Five work stoppages ended in the December 2008 quarter, the same number as ended in the September 2008 quarter. The number of employees involved decreased in the December 2008 quarter, but losses of person-days of work, and losses in wages and salaries were both up from the September 2008 quarter.
Of the five stoppages that ended in December 2008 quarter, all were complete strikes. The stoppages involved 434 employees, and resulted in losses of 516 person-days of work and an estimated $99,000 in wages and salaries. The September 2008 quarter had five work stoppages involving 551 employees, and losses of 480 person-days of work and an estimated $62,000 in wages and salaries.
Ongoing stoppages
There were no ongoing work stoppages at 31 December 2008.
For technical information please contact:
Becky Chen
Wellington 04 931 4600
Email: info@stats.govt.nz
Next release ...
Work Stoppages: March 2009 quarter will be released on 22 July 2009.