Annual work stoppages lowest in two decades

Seventeen work stoppages ended in the December 2010 year, the lowest number of stoppages since the
current time series began in 1986, Statistics New Zealand said today. Stoppages in the December 2010
year involved 6,394 employees, and losses of 6,285 person-days of work and an estimated $1.1 million in
wages and salaries.

In comparison, the 31 stoppages in the December 2009 year involved 8,951 employees, and losses of
14,088 person-days of work and an estimated $2.4 million in wages and salaries.

The proportion of stoppages that were resolved in the December 2010 year is 82 percent. This is up from
42 percent in the previous year, and is the highest proportion of resolved stoppages since the December
2003 year (86 percent).

Six work stoppages ended in the December 2010 quarter, up from four in the September 2010 quarter.
The six stoppages in the December quarter comprised four complete strikes and two partial strikes.

Geoff Bascand
21 April 2011
Government Statistician