6322.0 - Industrial Disputes, Australia, 1999  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 26/05/2000  Ceased
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MEDIA RELEASE

May 26, 2000
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
57/2000
Number of industrial disputes increases in 1999

Industrial disputation increased across Australia in 1999, the second consecutive year of increase, according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

There were 729 industrial disputes in Australia during 1999, an increase of 40% from 1998 and the highest number of disputes since 1991 (1,036). Working days lost were up 24 per cent to 650,400 in 1999, while employees involved increased by 32 per cnet to 460,900.

New South Wales recorded a total of 272 disputes, compared to 218 in 1998, a 25 per cent increase. The number of working days lost in New South Wales was 316,500, half of all working days lost in Australia, and a 68 per cent increase on the 1998 figure of 188,500. The number of employees involved increased 47% from 144,300 in 1998 to 211,400 in 1999, the highest rate of increase for any State or Territory.

There were 239 disputes in Victoria, which was a 74 per cent increase on the 137 disputes recorded in 1998, and was the highest number of disputes recorded in that State since 1986, when there were 260 disputes.

The construction industry accounted for 247 disputes, or about one-third, of disputes in 1999, followed by Manufacturing (208) and Coal Mining (81).

The education, health and community services industry lost the highest number of working days due to industrial disputation, 224,100 and the highest number of employees involved, 149,900. The industry experienced 40 disputes.

The number of working days lost per thousand employees increased from 72 in 1998 to 87 in 1999, and was highest in New South Wales (126) and Victoria (116). Coal mining recorded the highest rate by industry, with 1,445 working days lost per thousand employees, followed by Construction (381).

Copies of Industrial Disputes, Australia (cat. no. 6322.0) are available in public libraries across Australia, and are available for purchase from ABS Bookshops or by phone on 1300 135 070. The summary of the publication can be found on this site. If you wish to purchase a copy of this publication, contact the ABS Bookshop in your capital city.