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Industrial Disputes, Australia

This is not the latest release View the 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

December 2022

Released

9/03/2023

View all releases

Key statistics

In the December quarter 2022:

69 disputes occurred.
22,200 employees were involved and 21,300 working days lost.
disputes occurred in 8 industries and in 8 states and territories.

During the year ended December 2022, there were 189 disputes and a total of 197,000 working days lost.

		Quarter		Year ended
		September Quarter 2022	December Quarter 2022	December Quarter 2021	December Quarter 2022
Number of disputes (no.)
	New	60	54	128	181
	Total	70	69	130	189
Employees involved ('000)
	New	21.2	19.0	70.7	121.6
	Total	22.2	22.2	71.1	122.9
Working days lost ('000)		28.1	21.3	116.6	197.0

Revision to working days lost per thousand employees series

The quarterly Labour Force estimates underwent major rebenchmarking for the November quarter 2022 release. This was due to applying rebased Estimated Residential Population benchmarks based on 2021 Census data. As a result, the Industrial Disputes working days lost per thousand employees time series has been revised from September quarter 2017 onwards. These updates are reflected in this release and the associated time series spreadsheets.

Guide to labour statistics

To learn more about our different labour measures, their purpose and how to use them, see our Guide to labour statistics. It provides summary information on labour market topics including Industry employment and Earnings data.

Overview

In the December quarter 2022, there were:

69 disputes, 1 less than the previous quarter.
22,200 employees involved, which is the same as the previous quarter.
21,300 working days lost, a decrease from 28,100 in the previous quarter.

Year ended estimates:

189 disputes occurred, 59 more than in the previous year.
197,000 working days were lost, 80,400 more than in the previous year.

Industrial disputes which occurred during the quarter
	Number of disputes		Employees involved		Working days lost
	New (no.)	Total (no.)	New ('000)	Total ('000)	('000)
December Quarter 2020	27	32	2.2	2.6	16.5
March Quarter 2021	22	24	2.3	2.7	19.2
June Quarter 2021	30	36	6.0	6.4	10.4
September Quarter 2021	39	50	11.7	13.3	18.5
December Quarter 2021	37	55	50.6	57.2	68.5
March Quarter 2022	22	30	10.1	11.4	19.6
June Quarter 2022	45	52	71.2	73.7	128.1
September Quarter 2022	60	70	21.2	22.2	28.1
December Quarter 2022	54	69	19.0	22.2	21.3

Long-term trends

The level of industrial disputation over recent years is considerably lower than in the 1980's and prior decades.

Industrial disputes in the last 10 years, Australia
Quarter	Working days lost ('000)	Employees involved ('000)	Number of disputes (no.)
Dec-12	25.7	27.3	58
Mar-13	52.1	46.9	55
Jun-13	19.8	10.9	61
Sep-13	23.0	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	4.0	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	21.3	22.2	69

Industrial disputes in the last 10 years, Australia

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

[["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"],[[25.699999999999999],[52.100000000000001],[19.800000000000001],[23],[36.100000000000001],[9.6999999999999993],[20.199999999999999],[24.600000000000001],[16.899999999999999],[20.399999999999999],[14.800000000000001],[29.100000000000001],[19.100000000000001],[27.899999999999999],[24.5],[34.899999999999999],[37.200000000000003],[25.600000000000001],[40.200000000000003],[45.899999999999999],[36.700000000000003],[14.9],[12.5],[47.399999999999999],[30.899999999999999],[16.600000000000001],[17.600000000000001],[17.800000000000001],[12.4],[3.8999999999999999],[1.5],[11.699999999999999],[16.5],[19.199999999999999],[10.4],[18.5],[68.5],[19.600000000000001],[128.09999999999999],[28.100000000000001],[21.300000000000001]],[[27.300000000000001],[46.899999999999999],[10.9],[19.699999999999999],[57.299999999999997],[5.7000000000000002],[19.899999999999999],[18.899999999999999],[19.800000000000001],[14.6],[17.800000000000001],[29.800000000000001],[20.300000000000001],[23.899999999999999],[20.5],[26.300000000000001],[37.5],[22.699999999999999],[27.800000000000001],[8.0999999999999996],[17.100000000000001],[4],[14.6],[13.800000000000001],[28.800000000000001],[9.3000000000000007],[20.199999999999999],[17.5],[8.8000000000000007],[4],[1.1000000000000001],[4.2999999999999998],[2.6000000000000001],[2.7000000000000002],[6.4000000000000004],[13.300000000000001],[57.200000000000003],[11.4],[73.700000000000003],[22.199999999999999],[22.199999999999999]],[[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],[69]]]

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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	21.3	22.2	69

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"],[[333.10000000000002],[202.09999999999999],[349.39999999999998],[371.60000000000002],[199.30000000000001],[526.29999999999995],[289.89999999999998],[375.19999999999999],[184.19999999999999],[277.60000000000002],[519.29999999999995],[330.80000000000001],[214.5],[625.89999999999998],[540.29999999999995],[260.69999999999999],[170.09999999999999],[313.60000000000002],[475],[243.59999999999999],[162],[301.10000000000002],[341.19999999999999],[572.20000000000005],[97.5],[563],[340.19999999999999],[609.79999999999995],[66.099999999999994],[154.19999999999999],[51.600000000000001],[669.20000000000005],[196.40000000000001],[98.400000000000006],[202.19999999999999],[138.69999999999999],[112.5],[77.5],[102.90000000000001],[208.69999999999999],[111.3],[156.80000000000001],[120.09999999999999],[159.40000000000001],[153],[368.10000000000002],[304.30000000000001],[103.3],[88.400000000000006],[144],[125.2],[176.59999999999999],[98.299999999999997],[191.80000000000001],[126.3],[110],[102],[74],[243.09999999999999],[231.59999999999999],[146.09999999999999],[173.30000000000001],[86.200000000000003],[63.5],[70.299999999999997],[129.5],[111.09999999999999],[82.200000000000003],[72.700000000000003],[63.399999999999999],[53.399999999999999],[69.599999999999994],[66.299999999999997],[55.5],[166.19999999999999],[151.5],[80.400000000000006],[154.19999999999999],[93.299999999999997],[51.899999999999999],[45.100000000000001],[52.799999999999997],[49.299999999999997],[81],[30.100000000000001],[28.199999999999999],[20.199999999999999],[54.200000000000003],[6.9000000000000004],[7.0999999999999996],[11.300000000000001],[24.399999999999999],[42.799999999999997],[86.5],[36.200000000000003],[31.100000000000001],[11.6],[47.299999999999997],[29.100000000000001],[44.700000000000003],[28.800000000000001],[24],[46.600000000000001],[27.199999999999999],[19.699999999999999],[66.200000000000003],[101.3],[54.299999999999997],[35.799999999999997],[101.7],[110],[25.699999999999999],[52.100000000000001],[19.800000000000001],[23],[36.100000000000001],[9.6999999999999993],[20.199999999999999],[24.600000000000001],[16.899999999999999],[20.399999999999999],[14.800000000000001],[29.100000000000001],[19.100000000000001],[27.899999999999999],[24.5],[34.899999999999999],[37.200000000000003],[25.600000000000001],[40.200000000000003],[45.899999999999999],[36.700000000000003],[14.9],[12.5],[47.399999999999999],[30.899999999999999],[16.600000000000001],[17.600000000000001],[17.800000000000001],[12.4],[3.8999999999999999],[1.5],[11.699999999999999],[16.5],[19.199999999999999],[10.4],[18.5],[68.5],[19.600000000000001],[128.09999999999999],[28.100000000000001],[21.300000000000001]],[[132.19999999999999],[122.5],[170.90000000000001],[163.59999999999999],[67.799999999999997],[319.30000000000001],[162.30000000000001],[155.5],[85.799999999999997],[183.09999999999999],[151.09999999999999],[185.30000000000001],[91.299999999999997],[442.5],[333.60000000000002],[108.09999999999999],[89.700000000000003],[149.09999999999999],[334.89999999999998],[157],[84.599999999999994],[208.30000000000001],[304.10000000000002],[317.10000000000002],[85],[334.60000000000002],[343.80000000000001],[589.10000000000002],[52.5],[85.200000000000003],[43.100000000000001],[695.20000000000005],[180.40000000000001],[83.700000000000003],[130.09999999999999],[123.2],[37.299999999999997],[44.399999999999999],[66.700000000000003],[132.09999999999999],[74.400000000000006],[86.599999999999994],[67.599999999999994],[135.80000000000001],[108.8],[224],[285.89999999999998],[78.400000000000006],[56.700000000000003],[91],[55.799999999999997],[115.2],[48.399999999999999],[141.5],[76.5],[90.099999999999994],[62.899999999999999],[51.299999999999997],[265.10000000000002],[118.09999999999999],[105.5],[129.19999999999999],[64.099999999999994],[38.899999999999999],[37.5],[99],[52.5],[43.399999999999999],[46.600000000000001],[41.399999999999999],[40.899999999999999],[41.100000000000001],[30.100000000000001],[29.699999999999999],[107.90000000000001],[116.3],[45.200000000000003],[65],[56.200000000000003],[33.600000000000001],[20.800000000000001],[53.399999999999999],[68.400000000000006],[102.59999999999999],[19],[37.700000000000003],[6.5999999999999996],[60.600000000000001],[3.6000000000000001],[4.5],[5.9000000000000004],[23.699999999999999],[42.299999999999997],[69],[60.5],[62.899999999999999],[8.4000000000000004],[43.899999999999999],[18],[27],[13.199999999999999],[13.9],[16],[17],[11.1],[14.699999999999999],[66.400000000000006],[51.600000000000001],[6.7000000000000002],[70],[55.799999999999997],[27.300000000000001],[46.899999999999999],[10.9],[19.699999999999999],[57.299999999999997],[5.7000000000000002],[19.899999999999999],[18.899999999999999],[19.800000000000001],[14.6],[17.800000000000001],[29.800000000000001],[20.300000000000001],[23.899999999999999],[20.5],[26.300000000000001],[37.5],[22.699999999999999],[27.800000000000001],[8.0999999999999996],[17.100000000000001],[4],[14.6],[13.800000000000001],[28.800000000000001],[9.3000000000000007],[20.199999999999999],[17.5],[8.8000000000000007],[4],[1.1000000000000001],[4.2999999999999998],[2.6000000000000001],[2.7000000000000002],[6.4000000000000004],[13.300000000000001],[57.200000000000003],[11.4],[73.700000000000003],[22.199999999999999],[22.199999999999999]],[[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],[69]]]

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Industry

In the December quarter, disputes occurred in eight industries. Over a third (40.5%) of the total working days lost were in the Education and training; Health care and social assistance industry.

Industrial disputes which occurred during the quarter, industry
		September Quarter 2022		December Quarter 2022
		Working days lost	Working days lost per thousand employees	Working days lost	Working days lost per thousand employees
		('000)	(*)(no.)	('000)	(no.)
Mining
	Coal mining	np	np	0.1	1.3
	Other mining	np	np	np	np
Manufacturing
	Metal product etc (a)	1.8	6.0	np	np
	Other manufacturing	1.0	1.9	6.2	12.1
Construction		3.1	3.0	2.5	2.3
Transport, postal & warehousing		1.9	3.1	0.9	1.4
Education & training; Health care & social assistance		7.6	2.5	8.6	2.8
Other industries (a)		4.1	0.6	2.2	0.3
All industries		28.1	2.3	21.3	1.7

- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
np not available for publication but included in totals where applicable, unless otherwise indicated
(a) see Glossary - Industry - for details of industries included
(*) Working days lost per thousand employees series has been revised

States and territories

Disputes occurred in eight states and territories in the December quarter, with nearly a third (29.5%) of the total working days lost occurring in New South Wales.

Industrial disputes which occurred during the quarter, states and territories
	September Quarter 2022		December Quarter 2022
	Working days lost	Working days lost per thousand employees	Working days lost	Working days lost per thousand employees
	('000)	(*)(no.)	('000)	(no.)
New South Wales	14.6	3.8	6.3	1.6
Victoria	2.5	0.8	5.2	1.6
Queensland	2.4	1.0	2.8	1.1
South Australia	2.0	2.4	0.8	1.0
Western Australia	np	np	3.2	2.3
Tasmania	2.3	9.2	2.0	7.5
Northern Territory	1.7	13.5	0.5	3.7
Australian Capital Territory	np	np	0.4	1.8
Australia	28.1	2.3	21.3	1.7

- 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 per thousand employees series has been revised

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 89% of disputes (49 of 55) which ended in the September quarter 2022.

		June Quarter 2022			September Quarter 2022
		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	11	9.3	9.4	17	3.8	10.1
	Employment conditions	26	19.7	39.2	31	6.4	15.1
	Other	-	-	-	1	np	np
Non-Enterprise Bargaining related
	Remuneration	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Employment conditions	-	-	-	1	np	np
	Health and safety	1	0.3	0.2	1	np	np
	Job security	1	np	np	-	-	-
	Managerial policy	2	0.1	0.1	3	48.1	92.0
	Union issues	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Other	1	np	np	1	np	np
Total		42	29.5	48.9	55	59.2	118.2

Working days lost

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

Of the 55 disputes which ended in the September quarter, 21 lasted up to and including 1 day. These disputes had:

5,800 employees involved; and
4,900 working days lost.

Working days lost for disputes which ended during the quarter
	June Quarter 2022			September Quarter 2022
	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	27	13.7	13.2	21	5.8	4.9
Over 1 day and up to including 2 days	3	10.0	18.4	13	50.9	95.4
Over 2 and less than 5 days	8	5.3	11.7	10	np	np
5 and less than 10 days	3	0.3	1.6	9	1.1	9.6
10 days and over	1	0.2	3.9	2	np	np
Total	42	29.5	48.9	55	59.2	118.2

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 89% of disputes (49 of 55) which ended in the September quarter 2022.

Reason work resumed for disputes which ended during the quarter
	June Quarter 2022			September Quarter 2022
	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	5	0.3	4.1	2	np	np
State legislation	-	-	-	-	-	-
Federal legislation	-	-	-	1	np	np
Pre-determined return to work	37	29.2	44.8	49	58.2	116.5
Resumption without negotiation	-	-	-	2	0.7	0.8
Mediation	-	-	-	1	-	-
Other reasons	-	-	-	-	-	-
Total	42	29.5	48.9	55	59.2	118.2

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

Data downloads

Download all (476.87 KB)

Time Series Spreadsheets

Data files

Table 1: Industrial disputes which occurred during the period
Download xlsx [58.15 KB]
Table 2a: Industrial disputes which occurred during the period, working days lost, industry
Download xlsx [53.44 KB]
Table 2b: Industrial disputes which occurred during the period, working days lost per thousand employees, industry
Download xlsx [53.19 KB]
Table 3a: Industrial disputes which occurred during the period, working days lost, states and territories
Download xlsx [62.56 KB]
Table 3b: Industrial disputes which occurred during the period, working days lost per thousand employees, states and territories
Download xlsx [61.24 KB]
Table 4a: Industrial disputes which ended during the period, cause of dispute
Download xlsx [90.01 KB]
Table 4b: Industrial disputes which ended during the period, working days lost per employee involved
Download xlsx [62.69 KB]
Table 4c: Industrial disputes which ended during the period, reason work resumed
Download xlsx [77.32 KB]

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Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 6321.0.55.001.

Methodology

Industrial Disputes, Australia methodology, December 2022

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APA

Citation

Industrial Disputes, Australia

APA

Citation

Key statistics

Revision to working days lost per thousand employees series

Guide to labour statistics

Overview

Long-term trends

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