Work Stoppages Low Despite Current Disputes

“The current high profile industrial disputes mask work stoppages figures which remain very low,” CTU president Ross Wilson said, following the release of latest figures by Statistics NZ today.

"Of the more than 2,500 collective agreements in place, the vast majority are settled without work stoppages.“

“However work stoppages arise when a decent wage increase is not on offer from employers, and workers will always rise to the occasion if their employers steadfastly refuse to reach a fair settlement.”

“Spotless Services has locked out 800 low paid workers while it holds out on a national agreement for hospital service workers.  And now we see today’s lockout of 200 coal miners in Huntly, which is a huge over-reaction by an employer unwilling to bargain with workers over a fair pay settlement.”

“This level of employer stubbornness is driving our work stoppage statistics,” he said.

Ends.  The Statistics NZ release is here.