PLEASE NOTE: These statistics include the 'National Week of Action' campaign which took place in the week of 27 June to 1 July. See ACTU 'NATIONAL WEEK OF ACTION' CAMPAIGN for important information on the treatment of this dispute in ABS industrial disputes statistics.
SEPTEMBER KEY FIGURES
 | | Quarter | Year ended | |
| | June 2005 | September 2005 | September 2004 | September 2005 | |
| |
| Number of disputes | | | | | |
| Commenced in period (no.) | r125 | 142 | 712 | 518 | |
| Total (no.) | r138 | 148 | 727 | 525 | |
| Employees involved | | | | | |
| Newly involved ('000) | r50.1 | 76.5 | 278.6 | 176.4 | |
| Total ('000) | r53.4 | 76.8 | 280.0 | 180.4 | |
| Working days lost ('000) | r52.8 | 53.9 | 479.4 | 203.3 | |
| |
| r revised |
Working days lost
| |
SEPTEMBER KEY POINTS
QUARTERLY ESTIMATES
- For the September quarter 2005, there were 148 disputes, 10 more than in the June quarter 2005.
- The number of employees involved in industrial disputes in the September quarter 2005 was 76,800, an increase from 53,400 in the June quarter 2005.
- There were 53,900 working days lost due to industrial disputation in the September quarter 2005, an increase from 52,800 in the June quarter 2005.
- The Construction industry accounted for 21,200 (39%) of the total number of working days lost in the September quarter 2005. The Construction industry also had the highest number of working days lost per thousand employees (37.4) for the quarter.
- In the September quarter 2005, New South Wales accounted for 22,100 (41%) of working days lost. The Northern Territory had the highest number of working days lost per thousand employees (25.2) for the quarter.
YEAR ENDED ESTIMATES
- During the year ended September 2005, there were 525 disputes, 202 less than in the year ended September 2004.
- During the year ended September 2005, there were 203,300 working days lost compared with 479,400 in the year ended September 2004.
NOTES
NOTES ON ESTIMATES
ACTU 'NATIONAL WEEK OF ACTION' CAMPAIGN
Industrial Disputes statistics for the June and September quarters 2005 include the ACTU 'National Week of Action' campaign which took place in the week of 27 June to 1 July. The main form of action was a series of 1-2 hour lunch-time protest rallies in capital cities and major regional centres, on a state by state rotating basis.
NSW and ACT rallies took place on 1 July, and are reflected in the September quarter 2005 industrial disputes statistics. Rallies in other states took place at the end of June and are reflected in the June quarter 2005 industrial disputes statistics. In addition to the rallies, there were a small number of one day stoppages.
ABS data on the number of employees involved and working days lost, in respect of this dispute, are significantly lower than those reported in the media at the time of the dispute. The main reasons are:
- Employees who took authorised leave, such as time off in lieu, extended lunch breaks or paid leave, to participate in the campaign, are excluded from ABS industrial disputes statistics.
- Members of the general public, other than employees, who took part in the rallies, are excluded from ABS industrial disputes statistics.
- ABS data is mainly sourced from employers. Due to the widespread nature of the campaign, it has been difficult to identify all employers whose employees were on unauthorised absence when attending the rallies.
For further information on ABS scope and collection methodology for the Industrial Disputes collection, see the Explanatory Notes.
REVISIONS
Revisions have been made to the quarterly series as a result of disputes being identified after the release of the previous issue and as a result of correcting errors in previously reported data.
INQUIRIES
For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070.
TABLES
1. Industrial disputes which occurred during the quarter |
| |
| Number of disputes | Employees involved | | |
| Commenced in period | Total | Newly involved | Total | Working days lost | |
| no. | no. | '000 | '000 | '000 | |
| |
| September Quarter 2003 | 180 | 193 | 104.4 | 107.9 | 166.2 | |
| December Quarter 2003 | 172 | 187 | 114.9 | 116.3 | 151.5 | |
| March Quarter 2004 | 177 | 187 | 44.6 | 45.2 | 80.4 | |
| June Quarter 2004 | 175 | 190 | 63.2 | 65.0 | 154.2 | |
| September Quarter 2004 | 188 | 194 | 56.0 | 56.2 | 93.3 | |
| December Quarter 2004 | 142 | 149 | 29.6 | 33.6 | 51.9 | |
| March Quarter 2005 | 109 | 119 | 20.3 | 20.8 | 45.1 | |
| June Quarter 2005 | r125 | r138 | r50.1 | r53.4 | r52.8 | |
| September Quarter 2005 | 142 | 148 | 76.5 | 76.8 | 53.9 | |
| |
| r revised |
2. Industrial disputes which occurred during the quarter, Industry |
| |
| | June Quarter 2005 | September Quarter 2005 | |
| | Working days lost | Working days lost per thousand employees | Working days lost | Working days lost per thousand employees | |
| | '000 | | '000 | | |
| |
| Mining | | | | | |
| Coal mining | 1.7 | 61.6 | 0.9 | 31.8 | |
| Other | 0.5 | 5.5 | 0.4 | 4.1 | |
| Manufacturing | | | | | |
| Metal product; Machinery and equipment | r13.8 | r40.5 | 6.1 | 17.2 | |
| Other | 6.8 | 10.4 | 2.4 | 3.9 | |
| Construction | 19.4 | 32.8 | 21.2 | 37.4 | |
| Transport and storage; Communication services | 1.9 | 3.3 | 2.4 | 4.4 | |
| Education; Health and community services | 5.3 | 3.3 | 19.0 | 11.6 | |
| Other industries | r3.6 | r0.7 | 1.5 | 0.3 | |
| All industries | r52.8 | r6.1 | 53.9 | 6.2 | |
| |
| r revised |
3. Industrial disputes which occurred during the quarter, States and territories |
| |
| June Quarter 2005 | September Quarter 2005 | |
| Working days lost | Working days lost per thousand employees | Working days lost | Working days lost per thousand employees | |
| '000 | | '000 | | |
| |
| New South Wales | r7.6 | r2.7 | 22.1 | 7.9 | |
| Victoria | 25.8 | 11.6 | 7.8 | 3.6 | |
| Queensland | r7.5 | r4.5 | 2.2 | 1.3 | |
| South Australia | 0.9 | 1.3 | 8.4 | 13.2 | |
| Western Australia | 9.0 | 10.2 | 11.1 | 12.7 | |
| Tasmania | 0.8 | 4.1 | - | 0.2 | |
| Northern Territory | 1.2 | 13.8 | 2.2 | 25.2 | |
| Australian Capital Territory | - | 0.1 | - | 0.1 | |
| Australia | r52.8 | r6.1 | 53.9 | 6.2 | |
| |
| - nil or rounded to zero (including null cells) |
| r revised |
4. Industrial disputes which ended during the quarter(a) |
| |
| | March Quarter 2005 | June Quarter 2005 | |
| | Number of disputes | Employees involved | Working days lost | Number of disputes | Employees involved | Working days lost | |
| | no. | '000 | '000 | no. | '000 | '000 | |
CAUSE OF DISPUTE | |
| |
| Enterprise Bargaining (EB) related | | | | | | | |
| Remuneration | 13 | 2.2 | 14.9 | 23 | 12.9 | 23.1 | |
| Employment conditions (EB) | 3 | 0.1 | 4.0 | np | 1.6 | 3.1 | |
| Other EB related | 4 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 5 | 0.4 | 2.9 | |
| Non-EB related | | | | | | | |
| Remuneration | 8 | 3.2 | 16.0 | 5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | |
| Employment conditions | np | 0.5 | 1.7 | 13 | 1.9 | 1.3 | |
| Health and safety | 27 | 3.5 | 4.9 | 28 | 5.6 | 5.1 | |
| Job security | 8 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 14 | 0.8 | 1.7 | |
| Managerial policy | 23 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 26 | 3.2 | 3.1 | |
| Union issues | 15 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 15 | 8.7 | 4.8 | |
| Other non-EB related | np | 0.9 | 1.2 | np | 0.1 | - | |
| Total | 106 | 18.9 | 51.3 | 132 | 35.8 | 46.0 | |
WORKING DAYS LOST PER EMPLOYEE INVOLVED | |
| |
| Up to and including 1 day | 56 | 9.8 | 6.8 | 78 | 21.1 | 10.0 | |
| Over 1 day and up to and including 2 days | 21 | 2.8 | 4.0 | 33 | 12.5 | 22.7 | |
| Over 2 and less than 5 days | 17 | 2.8 | 9.4 | 16 | 1.6 | 5.0 | |
| 5 and less than 10 days | 6 | 2.8 | 16.5 | np | 0.1 | 0.6 | |
| 10 days and over | 6 | 0.7 | 14.5 | np | 0.5 | 7.7 | |
| Total | 106 | 18.9 | 51.3 | 132 | 35.8 | 46.0 | |
REASON WORK RESUMED | |
| |
| Negotiation without intervention of a third party | 25 | 3.4 | 9.4 | 28 | 3.0 | 10.3 | |
| State legislation | np | 1.0 | 1.9 | 14 | 1.9 | 2.4 | |
| Federal legislation | 14 | 5.4 | 21.8 | 11 | 1.4 | 1.7 | |
| Pre-determined return to work | 10 | 1.8 | 4.7 | 27 | 13.0 | 20.6 | |
| Resumption without negotiation | 39 | 5.8 | 6.4 | 41 | 14.4 | 7.9 | |
| Mediation | 10 | 1.4 | 6.5 | 11 | 2.0 | 3.1 | |
| Other reasons | np | 0.1 | 0.6 | - | - | - | |
| Total | 106 | 18.9 | 51.3 | 132 | 35.8 | 46.0 | |
| |
| - nil or rounded to zero (including null cells) |
| np not available for publication but included in totals where applicable, unless otherwise indicated |
| (a) See Explanatory Notes, paragraph 12 |
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