According to the CSO report ‘Industrial Disputes’, during 2010 there were 6,602 days lost to industrial disputes. This compares with 329,593 days lost in 2009, of which public sector disputes accounted for 248,679 days lost. In 2008, there were 4,147 days lost to industrial disputes and in 2007 the figure was 6,038.

There were a total of 14 industrial disputes in 2010 compared with 23 in 2009. The 14 disputes in progress in 2010 affected 511 workers whereas in 2009 there were 278,228 workers affected by industrial disputes. The 27 days lost in the fourth quarter of 2010 compared with 248,151 days lost in the fourth quarter of 2009. The one dispute in progress during the fourth quarter of 2010 involved 31 workers from a single firm.

Over 90 percent of days lost in 2010 occurred in 10 firms in the Industry, Transportation and storage and Administrative and support service activities sectors.