Industrial Action Historically Low

"Most of the 2,000 plus collective employment agreements were settled last year without the need for industrial action," CTU president Ross Wilson said today.

Statistics New Zealand data released this morning showed 11 work stoppages ended in the previous quarter, and 42 ended in the year to December 2006.

"The vast majority of collective agreements in New Zealand are settled without industrial action, and many employers have recognised the need to offer higher wages to attract and retain workers."

"Workers through their unions will continue to argue for improvements in wages and conditions. For most workers, strike action is not needed to achieve this, but when employers are unrealistic about the need to pay fair wage increases workers are within their right to take industrial action in support of a wage claim.”

“These figures remain low historically, as compared with work stoppages under the bitter days of the Employment Contracts Act in the 1990s,” Ross Wilson said.