Fed: Industrial disputes down sharply in September

AAP General News (Australia)
12-20-1999
Fed: Industrial disputes down sharply in September

CANBERRA, Dec 20 AAP - The number of days lost to industrial disputes dropped dramatically
in September after an extraordinarily high figure the previous month.

The figure was down 50 per cent to 64,800 days lost, plunging from 130,000 days lost
in August, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics' September report.

This was still the second highest monthly figure in more than a year.

The number of employees involved returned a correspondingly big drop, down 63 per cent,
and the number of disputes was down 13 from 85.

The machinery and equipment manufacturing industry accounted for the largest proportion
(46 per cent) of all working days lost during the month.

Over the 12 months to September, the number of working days lost was down 11 per cent
on the previous year to 528,200.

However, the picture was not the same for the number of disputes and employees involved
(up 56 per cent and 24 per cent respectively).

Over the 12 months, there was a big decrease in the impact of industrial strife in the
construction industry, declining by more than 100,000 days lost.

In Victoria, the number of working days lost over the year fell sharpest, down 93,800 to 202,900.

New South Wales had the biggest increase, up 16,200 from the previous year to 197,300.

AAP dep/apm

KEYWORD: DISPUTES

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