Industrial Disputes, Australia

Latest release

The number of disputes (strikes or lockouts), employees involved and working days lost; cause of dispute; duration; and the reason work resumed

Reference period

June 2026

Released

9/09/2026

Release date and time

09/09/2026 11:30am AEST

Key statistics

In the June quarter 2026, there were:

49 disputes, the same as the previous quarter.
12,800 employees involved, a decrease from 46,500 in the previous quarter.
21,200 working days lost, a decrease from 47,600 in the previous quarter.
Disputes occurred in all eight industries and in all eight states and territories.

Key statistics
		Quarter		Year ended
		March Quarter 2026	June Quarter 2026	June Quarter 2025	June Quarter 2026
Number of disputes (no.)
	New	36	38	176	204
	Total	49	49	185	217
Employees involved ('000)
	New	43.3	12.3	76.3	143.0
	Total	46.5	12.8	78.4	144.3
Working days lost ('000)		47.6	21.2	142.9	193.0

Industrial disputes over time

Industrial disputes which occurred during the quarter
	Number of disputes		Employees involved		Working days lost
	New (no.)	Total (no.)	New ('000)	Total ('000)	('000)
June Quarter 2024	43	52	23.6	23.8	21.9
September Quarter 2024	54	63	30.9	33.0	46.6
December Quarter 2024	49	69	21.7	25.2	53.8
March Quarter 2025	34	44	8.9	10.3	13.9
June Quarter 2025	39	44	14.7	15.9	28.5
September Quarter 2025	74	87	40.5	41.8	54.6
December Quarter 2025	56	77	46.9	49.5	69.6
March Quarter 2026	36	49	43.3	46.5	47.6
June Quarter 2026	38	49	12.3	12.8	21.2

Industrial disputes in the last 10 years, Australia
Quarter	Working days lost ('000)	Employees involved ('000)	Number of disputes (no.)
Jun-16	24.5	20.5	60
Sep-16	34.9	26.3	93
Dec-16	37.2	37.5	48
Mar-17	25.6	22.7	32
Jun-17	40.2	27.8	49
Sep-17	45.9	8.1	57
Dec-17	36.7	17.1	67
Mar-18	14.9	4.0	24
Jun-18	12.5	14.6	48
Sep-18	47.4	13.8	51
Dec-18	30.9	28.8	62
Mar-19	16.6	9.3	44
Jun-19	17.6	20.2	44
Sep-19	17.8	17.5	43
Dec-19	12.4	8.8	38
Mar-20	3.9	4.0	23
Jun-20	1.5	1.1	11
Sep-20	11.7	4.3	21
Dec-20	16.5	2.6	32
Mar-21	19.2	2.7	24
Jun-21	10.4	6.4	36
Sep-21	18.5	13.3	50
Dec-21	68.5	57.2	55
Mar-22	19.6	11.4	30
Jun-22	128.1	73.7	52
Sep-22	28.1	22.2	70
Dec-22	21.0	21.6	68
Mar-23	7.7	4.7	41
Jun-23	10.2	10.5	71
Sep-23	37.1	18.8	67
Dec-23	44.2	18.6	67
Mar-24	16.8	12.8	48
Jun-24	21.9	23.8	52
Sep-24	46.6	33.0	63
Dec-24	53.8	25.2	69
Mar-25	13.9	10.3	44
Jun-25	28.5	15.9	44
Sep-25	54.6	41.8	87
Dec-25	69.6	49.5	77
Mar-26	47.6	46.5	49
Jun-26	21.2	12.8	49

Industrial disputes in the last 10 years, Australia

["Quarter","Working days lost ('000)","Employees involved ('000)","Number of disputes (no.)"]

[["Jun-16","Sep-16","Dec-16","Mar-17","Jun-17","Sep-17","Dec-17","Mar-18","Jun-18","Sep-18","Dec-18","Mar-19","Jun-19","Sep-19","Dec-19","Mar-20","Jun-20","Sep-20","Dec-20","Mar-21","Jun-21","Sep-21","Dec-21","Mar-22","Jun-22","Sep-22","Dec-22","Mar-23","Jun-23","Sep-23","Dec-23","Mar-24","Jun-24","Sep-24","Dec-24","Mar-25","Jun-25","Sep-25","Dec-25","Mar-26","Jun-26"],[[24.5],[34.9],[37.2],[25.6],[40.2],[45.9],[36.7],[14.9],[12.5],[47.4],[30.9],[16.6],[17.6],[17.8],[12.4],[3.9],[1.5],[11.7],[16.5],[19.2],[10.4],[18.5],[68.5],[19.6],[128.1],[28.1],[21],[7.7],[10.2],[37.1],[44.2],[16.8],[21.9],[46.6],[53.8],[13.9],[28.5],[54.6],[69.6],[47.6],[21.2]],[[20.5],[26.3],[37.5],[22.7],[27.8],[8.1],[17.1],[4],[14.6],[13.8],[28.8],[9.3],[20.2],[17.5],[8.8],[4],[1.1],[4.3],[2.6],[2.7],[6.4],[13.3],[57.2],[11.4],[73.7],[22.2],[21.6],[4.7],[10.5],[18.8],[18.6],[12.8],[23.8],[33],[25.2],[10.3],[15.9],[41.8],[49.5],[46.5],[12.8]],[[60],[93],[48],[32],[49],[57],[67],[24],[48],[51],[62],[44],[44],[43],[38],[23],[11],[21],[32],[24],[36],[50],[55],[30],[52],[70],[68],[41],[71],[67],[67],[48],[52],[63],[69],[44],[44],[87],[77],[49],[49]]]

[]

[{"value":"0","axis_id":"0","axis_title":"","axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","axis_min":null,"axis_max":null,"tick_interval":"4","precision":"-1","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

[{"value":"0","axis_id":"0","axis_title":"no.","axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","axis_min":null,"axis_max":null,"tick_interval":null,"precision":"-1","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false},{"value":"1","axis_id":"1","axis_title":"'000","axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","axis_min":null,"axis_max":null,"tick_interval":null,"precision":"-1","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

Industrial disputes historical series, Australia
Quarter	Working days lost ('000)	Employees involved ('000)	Number of disputes (no.)
Mar-85	333.1	132.2	445
Jun-85	202.1	122.5	400
Sep-85	349.4	170.9	605
Dec-85	371.6	163.6	508
Mar-86	199.3	67.8	379
Jun-86	526.3	319.3	483
Sep-86	289.9	162.3	491
Dec-86	375.2	155.5	456
Mar-87	184.2	85.8	366
Jun-87	277.6	183.1	418
Sep-87	519.3	151.1	383
Dec-87	330.8	185.3	409
Mar-88	214.5	91.3	393
Jun-88	625.9	442.5	420
Sep-88	540.3	333.6	358
Dec-88	260.7	108.1	372
Mar-89	170.1	89.7	383
Jun-89	313.6	149.1	386
Sep-89	475	334.9	363
Dec-89	243.6	157	309
Mar-90	162	84.6	294
Jun-90	301.1	208.3	295
Sep-90	341.2	304.1	336
Dec-90	572.2	317.1	309
Mar-91	97.5	85	285
Jun-91	563	334.6	304
Sep-91	340.2	343.8	302
Dec-91	609.8	589.1	187
Mar-92	66.1	52.5	207
Jun-92	154.2	85.2	213
Sep-92	51.6	43.1	181
Dec-92	669.2	695.2	164
Mar-93	196.4	180.4	156
Jun-93	98.4	83.7	164
Sep-93	202.2	130.1	168
Dec-93	138.7	123.2	147
Mar-94	112.5	37.3	112
Jun-94	77.5	44.4	131
Sep-94	102.9	66.7	159
Dec-94	208.7	132.1	175
Mar-95	111.3	74.4	170
Jun-95	156.8	86.6	170
Sep-95	120.1	67.6	180
Dec-95	159.4	135.8	155
Mar-96	153	108.8	134
Jun-96	368.1	224	149
Sep-96	304.3	285.9	126
Dec-96	103.3	78.4	156
Mar-97	88.4	56.7	97
Jun-97	144	91	126
Sep-97	125.2	55.8	125
Dec-97	176.6	115.2	112
Mar-98	98.3	48.4	107
Jun-98	191.8	141.5	103
Sep-98	126.3	76.5	158
Dec-98	110	90.1	175
Mar-99	102	62.9	162
Jun-99	74	51.3	180
Sep-99	243.1	265.1	230
Dec-99	231.6	118.1	192
Mar-00	146.1	105.5	201
Jun-00	173.3	129.2	192
Sep-00	86.2	64.1	194
Dec-00	63.5	38.9	170
Mar-01	70.3	37.5	204
Jun-01	129.5	99	173
Sep-01	111.1	52.5	195
Dec-01	82.2	43.4	156
Mar-02	72.7	46.6	179
Jun-02	63.4	41.4	205
Sep-02	53.4	40.9	240
Dec-02	69.6	41.1	198
Mar-03	66.3	30.1	162
Jun-03	55.5	29.7	141
Sep-03	166.2	107.9	193
Dec-03	151.5	116.3	187
Mar-04	80.4	45.2	187
Jun-04	154.2	65	190
Sep-04	93.3	56.2	194
Dec-04	51.9	33.6	149
Mar-05	45.1	20.8	119
Jun-05	52.8	53.4	138
Sep-05	49.3	68.4	150
Dec-05	81	102.6	96
Mar-06	30.1	19	101
Jun-06	28.2	37.7	24
Sep-06	20.2	6.6	44
Dec-06	54.2	60.6	50
Mar-07	6.9	3.6	33
Jun-07	7.1	4.5	32
Sep-07	11.3	5.9	45
Dec-07	24.4	23.7	36
Mar-08	42.8	42.3	39
Jun-08	86.5	69	60
Sep-08	36.2	60.5	56
Dec-08	31.1	62.9	43
Mar-09	11.6	8.4	48
Jun-09	47.3	43.9	58
Sep-09	29.1	18	72
Dec-09	44.7	27	81
Mar-10	28.8	13.2	54
Jun-10	24	13.9	56
Sep-10	46.6	16	72
Dec-10	27.2	17	70
Mar-11	19.7	11.1	37
Jun-11	66.2	14.7	53
Sep-11	101.3	66.4	66
Dec-11	54.3	51.6	74
Mar-12	35.8	6.7	43
Jun-12	101.7	70	53
Sep-12	110	55.8	68
Dec-12	25.7	27.3	58
Mar-13	52.1	46.9	55
Jun-13	19.8	10.9	61
Sep-13	23	19.7	65
Dec-13	36.1	57.3	58
Mar-14	9.7	5.7	37
Jun-14	20.2	19.9	60
Sep-14	24.6	18.9	55
Dec-14	16.9	19.8	57
Mar-15	20.4	14.6	46
Jun-15	14.8	17.8	59
Sep-15	29.1	29.8	78
Dec-15	19.1	20.3	72
Mar-16	27.9	23.9	80
Jun-16	24.5	20.5	60
Sep-16	34.9	26.3	93
Dec-16	37.2	37.5	48
Mar-17	25.6	22.7	32
Jun-17	40.2	27.8	49
Sep-17	45.9	8.1	57
Dec-17	36.7	17.1	67
Mar-18	14.9	4	24
Jun-18	12.5	14.6	48
Sep-18	47.4	13.8	51
Dec-18	30.9	28.8	62
Mar-19	16.6	9.3	44
Jun-19	17.6	20.2	44
Sep-19	17.8	17.5	43
Dec-19	12.4	8.8	38
Mar-20	3.9	4	23
Jun-20	1.5	1.1	11
Sep-20	11.7	4.3	21
Dec-20	16.5	2.6	32
Mar-21	19.2	2.7	24
Jun-21	10.4	6.4	36
Sep-21	18.5	13.3	50
Dec-21	68.5	57.2	55
Mar-22	19.6	11.4	30
Jun-22	128.1	73.7	52
Sep-22	28.1	22.2	70
Dec-22	21	21.6	68
Mar-23	7.7	4.7	41
Jun-23	10.2	10.5	71
Sep-23	37.1	18.8	67
Dec-23	44.2	18.6	67
Mar-24	16.8	12.8	48
Jun-24	21.9	23.8	52
Sep-24	46.6	33	63
Dec-24	53.8	25.2	69
Mar-25	13.9	10.3	44
Jun-25	28.5	15.9	44
Sep-25	54.6	41.8	87
Dec-25	69.6	49.5	77
Mar-26	47.6	46.5	49
Jun-26	21.2	12.8	49

Industrial disputes historical series, Australia

["Quarter","Working days lost ('000)","Employees involved ('000)","Number of disputes (no.)"]

[["Mar-85","Jun-85","Sep-85","Dec-85","Mar-86","Jun-86","Sep-86","Dec-86","Mar-87","Jun-87","Sep-87","Dec-87","Mar-88","Jun-88","Sep-88","Dec-88","Mar-89","Jun-89","Sep-89","Dec-89","Mar-90","Jun-90","Sep-90","Dec-90","Mar-91","Jun-91","Sep-91","Dec-91","Mar-92","Jun-92","Sep-92","Dec-92","Mar-93","Jun-93","Sep-93","Dec-93","Mar-94","Jun-94","Sep-94","Dec-94","Mar-95","Jun-95","Sep-95","Dec-95","Mar-96","Jun-96","Sep-96","Dec-96","Mar-97","Jun-97","Sep-97","Dec-97","Mar-98","Jun-98","Sep-98","Dec-98","Mar-99","Jun-99","Sep-99","Dec-99","Mar-00","Jun-00","Sep-00","Dec-00","Mar-01","Jun-01","Sep-01","Dec-01","Mar-02","Jun-02","Sep-02","Dec-02","Mar-03","Jun-03","Sep-03","Dec-03","Mar-04","Jun-04","Sep-04","Dec-04","Mar-05","Jun-05","Sep-05","Dec-05","Mar-06","Jun-06","Sep-06","Dec-06","Mar-07","Jun-07","Sep-07","Dec-07","Mar-08","Jun-08","Sep-08","Dec-08","Mar-09","Jun-09","Sep-09","Dec-09","Mar-10","Jun-10","Sep-10","Dec-10","Mar-11","Jun-11","Sep-11","Dec-11","Mar-12","Jun-12","Sep-12","Dec-12","Mar-13","Jun-13","Sep-13","Dec-13","Mar-14","Jun-14","Sep-14","Dec-14","Mar-15","Jun-15","Sep-15","Dec-15","Mar-16","Jun-16","Sep-16","Dec-16","Mar-17","Jun-17","Sep-17","Dec-17","Mar-18","Jun-18","Sep-18","Dec-18","Mar-19","Jun-19","Sep-19","Dec-19","Mar-20","Jun-20","Sep-20","Dec-20","Mar-21","Jun-21","Sep-21","Dec-21","Mar-22","Jun-22","Sep-22","Dec-22","Mar-23","Jun-23","Sep-23","Dec-23","Mar-24","Jun-24","Sep-24","Dec-24","Mar-25","Jun-25","Sep-25","Dec-25","Mar-26","Jun-26"],[[333.1],[202.1],[349.4],[371.6],[199.3],[526.3],[289.9],[375.2],[184.2],[277.6],[519.3],[330.8],[214.5],[625.9],[540.3],[260.7],[170.1],[313.6],[475],[243.6],[162],[301.1],[341.2],[572.2],[97.5],[563],[340.2],[609.8],[66.1],[154.2],[51.6],[669.2],[196.4],[98.4],[202.2],[138.7],[112.5],[77.5],[102.9],[208.7],[111.3],[156.8],[120.1],[159.4],[153],[368.1],[304.3],[103.3],[88.4],[144],[125.2],[176.6],[98.3],[191.8],[126.3],[110],[102],[74],[243.1],[231.6],[146.1],[173.3],[86.2],[63.5],[70.3],[129.5],[111.1],[82.2],[72.7],[63.4],[53.4],[69.6],[66.3],[55.5],[166.2],[151.5],[80.4],[154.2],[93.3],[51.9],[45.1],[52.8],[49.3],[81],[30.1],[28.2],[20.2],[54.2],[6.9],[7.1],[11.3],[24.4],[42.8],[86.5],[36.2],[31.1],[11.6],[47.3],[29.1],[44.7],[28.8],[24],[46.6],[27.2],[19.7],[66.2],[101.3],[54.3],[35.8],[101.7],[110],[25.7],[52.1],[19.8],[23],[36.1],[9.7],[20.2],[24.6],[16.9],[20.4],[14.8],[29.1],[19.1],[27.9],[24.5],[34.9],[37.2],[25.6],[40.2],[45.9],[36.7],[14.9],[12.5],[47.4],[30.9],[16.6],[17.6],[17.8],[12.4],[3.9],[1.5],[11.7],[16.5],[19.2],[10.4],[18.5],[68.5],[19.6],[128.1],[28.1],[21],[7.7],[10.2],[37.1],[44.2],[16.8],[21.9],[46.6],[53.8],[13.9],[28.5],[54.6],[69.6],[47.6],[21.2]],[[132.2],[122.5],[170.9],[163.6],[67.8],[319.3],[162.3],[155.5],[85.8],[183.1],[151.1],[185.3],[91.3],[442.5],[333.6],[108.1],[89.7],[149.1],[334.9],[157],[84.6],[208.3],[304.1],[317.1],[85],[334.6],[343.8],[589.1],[52.5],[85.2],[43.1],[695.2],[180.4],[83.7],[130.1],[123.2],[37.3],[44.4],[66.7],[132.1],[74.4],[86.6],[67.6],[135.8],[108.8],[224],[285.9],[78.4],[56.7],[91],[55.8],[115.2],[48.4],[141.5],[76.5],[90.1],[62.9],[51.3],[265.1],[118.1],[105.5],[129.2],[64.1],[38.9],[37.5],[99],[52.5],[43.4],[46.6],[41.4],[40.9],[41.1],[30.1],[29.7],[107.9],[116.3],[45.2],[65],[56.2],[33.6],[20.8],[53.4],[68.4],[102.6],[19],[37.7],[6.6],[60.6],[3.6],[4.5],[5.9],[23.7],[42.3],[69],[60.5],[62.9],[8.4],[43.9],[18],[27],[13.2],[13.9],[16],[17],[11.1],[14.7],[66.4],[51.6],[6.7],[70],[55.8],[27.3],[46.9],[10.9],[19.7],[57.3],[5.7],[19.9],[18.9],[19.8],[14.6],[17.8],[29.8],[20.3],[23.9],[20.5],[26.3],[37.5],[22.7],[27.8],[8.1],[17.1],[4],[14.6],[13.8],[28.8],[9.3],[20.2],[17.5],[8.8],[4],[1.1],[4.3],[2.6],[2.7],[6.4],[13.3],[57.2],[11.4],[73.7],[22.2],[21.6],[4.7],[10.5],[18.8],[18.6],[12.8],[23.8],[33],[25.2],[10.3],[15.9],[41.8],[49.5],[46.5],[12.8]],[[445],[400],[605],[508],[379],[483],[491],[456],[366],[418],[383],[409],[393],[420],[358],[372],[383],[386],[363],[309],[294],[295],[336],[309],[285],[304],[302],[187],[207],[213],[181],[164],[156],[164],[168],[147],[112],[131],[159],[175],[170],[170],[180],[155],[134],[149],[126],[156],[97],[126],[125],[112],[107],[103],[158],[175],[162],[180],[230],[192],[201],[192],[194],[170],[204],[173],[195],[156],[179],[205],[240],[198],[162],[141],[193],[187],[187],[190],[194],[149],[119],[138],[150],[96],[101],[24],[44],[50],[33],[32],[45],[36],[39],[60],[56],[43],[48],[58],[72],[81],[54],[56],[72],[70],[37],[53],[66],[74],[43],[53],[68],[58],[55],[61],[65],[58],[37],[60],[55],[57],[46],[59],[78],[72],[80],[60],[93],[48],[32],[49],[57],[67],[24],[48],[51],[62],[44],[44],[43],[38],[23],[11],[21],[32],[24],[36],[50],[55],[30],[52],[70],[68],[41],[71],[67],[67],[48],[52],[63],[69],[44],[44],[87],[77],[49],[49]]]

[]

[{"value":"0","axis_id":"0","axis_title":"","axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","axis_min":null,"axis_max":null,"tick_interval":"4","precision":"-1","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

[{"value":"0","axis_id":"0","axis_title":"no.","axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","axis_min":null,"axis_max":null,"tick_interval":null,"precision":"-1","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false},{"value":"1","axis_id":"1","axis_title":"'000","axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","axis_min":null,"axis_max":null,"tick_interval":null,"precision":"-1","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

Industry

In the June quarter 2026, disputes occurred in all industries.

Industrial disputes which occurred during the quarter, industry
		March Quarter 2026		June Quarter 2026
		Working days lost ('000)	Working days lost per thousand employees (no.)	Working days lost ('000)	Working days lost per thousand employees (no.)
Mining
	Coal mining	-	-	np	np
	Other mining	-	-	3.5	13.8
Manufacturing
	Metal product etc (a)	0.3	0.7	np	np
	Other manufacturing	0.9	2.0	0.6	1.2
Construction		1.0	0.9	2.6	2.2
Transport, postal & warehousing		0.9	1.4	2.0	3.0
Education & training; Health care & social assistance		41.2	11.8	4.2	1.2
Other industries (a)		3.2	0.4	5.9	0.8
All industries		47.6	3.5	21.2	1.6

(a) see Glossary - Industry - for details of industries included
(-) nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
(np) not available for publication but included in totals where applicable, unless otherwise indicated

States and territories

In the June quarter 2026, disputes occurred in all states and territories.

Industrial disputes which occurred during the quarter, states and territories
	March Quarter 2026		June Quarter 2026
	Working days lost ('000)	Working days lost per thousand employees (no.)	Working days lost ('000)	Working days lost per thousand employees (no.)
New South Wales	2.5	0.6	5.4	1.3
Victoria	42.0	11.9	5.3	1.5
Queensland	1.6	0.6	3.2	1.1
South Australia	0.6	0.6	0.2	0.2
Western Australia	np	np	2.2	1.4
Tasmania	0.5	1.9	0.4	1.6
Northern Territory	0.1	0.5	1.9	13.2
Australian Capital Territory	np	np	2.6	9.7
Australia	47.6	3.5	21.2	1.6

(np) not available for publication but included in totals where applicable, unless otherwise indicated

Cause of dispute

Most industrial disputes are Enterprise Bargaining (EB) related. Over the past 10 years, disputes over employment conditions have generally been the most prevalent.

EB related issues were the cause of 95% of disputes (36 of 38) which ended in the March quarter 2026.

Cause of dispute for disputes which ended during the quarter
		December Quarter 2025			March Quarter 2026
		Number of disputes (no.)	Employees involved ('000)	Working days lost ('000)	Number of disputes (no.)	Employees involved ('000)	Working days lost ('000)
Enterprise Bargaining related
	Remuneration	19	28.8	43.5	10	np	np
	Employment conditions	44	np	np	26	41.8	47.1
	Other	-	-	-	-	-	-
Non-Enterprise Bargaining related
	Remuneration	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Employment conditions	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Health and safety	1	np	np	2	np	np
	Job security	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Managerial policy	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Union issues	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Other	-	-	-	-	-	-
Total		64	47.1	73.6	38	46.0	52.6

(-) nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
(np) not available for publication but included in totals where applicable, unless otherwise indicated

Working days lost

Working days lost is a measure of the length of a dispute, relative to the number of employees involved.

Of the 38 disputes which ended in the March quarter, 16 disputes (42%) were "Up to and including 1 day".

Working days lost for disputes which ended during the quarter
	December Quarter 2025			March Quarter 2026
	Number of disputes (no.)	Employees involved ('000)	Working days lost ('000)	Number of disputes (no.)	Employees involved ('000)	Working days lost ('000)
Up to and including 1 day	22	np	np	16	42.5	41.1
Over 1 day and up to including 2 days	17	np	np	6	0.6	1.0
Over 2 and less than 5 days	12	1.9	6.4	9	2.5	5.7
5 and less than 10 days	7	0.5	3.7	4	0.3	1.7
10 days and over	6	1.7	26.0	3	0.2	3.0
Total	64	47.1	73.6	38	46.0	52.6

(np) not available for publication but included in totals where applicable, unless otherwise indicated

Reason work resumed

The reason work resumed relates to the last day of action taken. Resumption of work can occur without resolution to the issues that triggered the dispute.

There was a pre-determined return to work for 97% of disputes (37 of 38) which ended in the March quarter 2026.

Reason work resumed for disputes which ended during the quarter
	December Quarter 2025			March Quarter 2026
	Number of disputes (no.)	Employees involved ('000)	Working days lost ('000)	Number of disputes (no.)	Employees involved ('000)	Working days lost ('000)
Negotiation without intervention of a third party	4	np	np	-	-	-
State legislation	1	np	np	-	-	-
Federal legislation	-	-	-	-	-	-
Pre-determined return to work	59	44.9	64.9	37	np	np
Resumption without negotiation	-	-	-	1	np	np
Mediation	-	-	-	-	-	-
Other reasons	-	-	-	-	-	-
Total	64	47.1	73.6	38	46.0	52.6

(-) nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
(np) not available for publication but included in totals where applicable, unless otherwise indicated

Data downloads

Time Series Spreadsheets

Download all (503.88 KB)

Data files

Table 1: Industrial disputes which occurred during the period
Download xlsx [59.12 KB]
Table 2a: Industrial disputes which occurred during the period, working days lost, industry
Download xlsx [55.19 KB]
Table 2b: Industrial disputes which occurred during the period, working days lost per thousand employees, industry
Download xlsx [55.16 KB]
Table 3a: Industrial disputes which occurred during the period, working days lost, states and territories
Download xlsx [64.41 KB]
Table 3b: Industrial disputes which occurred during the period, working days lost per thousand employees, states and territories
Download xlsx [63.12 KB]
Table 4a: Industrial disputes which ended during the period, cause of dispute
Download xlsx [100.69 KB]
Table 4b: Industrial disputes which ended during the period, working days lost per employee involved
Download xlsx [64.97 KB]
Table 4c: Industrial disputes which ended during the period, reason work resumed
Download xlsx [84.47 KB]

Enquiries

For enquiries about these and related statistics, contact the Customer Assistance Service via the ABS website Contact Us page. The ABS Privacy Policy outlines how the ABS will handle any personal information that you provide to us.

Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 6321.0.55.001.

Methodology

Industrial Disputes, Australia methodology, June 2026

Do you need more detailed statistics?

Request data

We can provide customised data to meet your requirements

Request a quote

Microdata and TableBuilder

We can provide access to detailed, customisable data on selected topics

View available Microdata and TableBuilder

APA

Citation

Industrial Disputes, Australia

APA

Citation

Key statistics

Industrial disputes over time

Industry

States and territories

Cause of dispute

Working days lost

Reason work resumed

Data downloads

Time Series Spreadsheets

Table 1: Industrial disputes which occurred during the period

Table 2a: Industrial disputes which occurred during the period, working days lost, industry

Table 2b: Industrial disputes which occurred during the period, working days lost per thousand employees, industry

Table 3a: Industrial disputes which occurred during the period, working days lost, states and territories

Table 3b: Industrial disputes which occurred during the period, working days lost per thousand employees, states and territories

Table 4a: Industrial disputes which ended during the period, cause of dispute

Table 4b: Industrial disputes which ended during the period, working days lost per employee involved

Table 4c: Industrial disputes which ended during the period, reason work resumed