Seven Work Stoppages End in March 2002 Quarter
Seven work stoppages ended in the March 2002 quarter, according to latest figures from Statistics New Zealand. All
stoppages in this quarter were complete strikes. The stoppages involved 4,258 employees with a loss of 4,505 person-days
of work. This is an average loss of 1.1 person-days of work. An estimated $798,000 was lost in wages and salaries.
In the December 2001 quarter, there were six stoppages with 14,947 employees involved. This resulted in a loss of 23,394
person-days of work and an estimated $3.5 million in wages and salaries.
In the March 2002 year, there were 41 stoppages which involved some 25,331 employees. There were losses of 52,739
person-days of work and an estimated $7.5 million in wages and salaries.
In comparison, 24 stoppages involving 3,087 employees ended in the March 2001 year. These resulted in losses of 13,496
person-days of work and an estimated $2.7 million in wages and salaries.
Twenty-six private sector and 15 public sector stoppages ended in the March 2002 year, compared with 13 private sector
and 11 public sector stoppages in the March 2001 year.
In the March 2002 year, the manufacturing industry group had 16 work stoppages. Five stoppages were recorded in
education. The transport and storage, and the health and community services group each recorded four stoppages. There
were three stoppages recorded in both the property and business services, and the personal and other services groups.
Six stoppages were recorded in all other industries combined. While manufacturing had the highest number of work
stoppages, the number of employees involved, losses of person-days of work and estimated wages and salaries were lower
than education. The education industry contributed about 55 percent of the total 25,331 employees involved.
Brian Pink
Government Statistician
END