Strikes still lower than last decade average

“ Industrial relations stability under the Employment Relations Act continues to be reflected in the latest strike statistics,” Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.

“It is significant that the industrial action in secondary schools contributed about 57% of the number of employees involved in the June 2002 quarter strike statistics released by Statistics New Zealand today,” he said.

In all other sectors the number of strikes is below the average for the last decade despite a substantial increase in collective bargaining”.

In 1977 there were 562 stoppages. In 1980 there were 360 stoppages, falling to 137 in 1990, and 46 in the June 2002 year.

“Strikes are well down on what they used to be and even employer spokespeople have admitted that the ERA is a success.

"In fact, there has been a significant reduction in the number of working days lost through strike action over the past 23 years."

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