Strikes soar in June quarter

Work stoppages rose sharply in the June quarter at a cost of $1.4 million in lost wages and salaries, latest Statistics New Zealand figures show.

In the three months to June 30 there were 16 work stoppages - 14 complete strikes and two partial strikes, compared with just four in the March quarter.

On an annual basis there were 41 stoppages involving 8469 workers, with an estimated $2.1 million wage loss and 14,263 person-days of work.

That compares with just 35 stoppages worth $700,000 in the year to June 2004.

The union driving a major wage campaign is unapologetic about its impact, however, saying industrial action put $9 million in workers' pockets during the June quarter.

The Engineering, Print and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) - the country's biggest - along with the Council of Trade Unions, is pushing for a 5 per cent pay rise for all members in its "Fair Share - Five in 05" campaign.

EPMU national secretary Andrew Little said the June work stoppages showed workers were prepared to take action for a decent income.

"Working people understand the costs of industrial action and do not make the decision to take action lightly. But they also understand the benefits, and at the moment they are saying that they are prepared to fight for a fair share of our country's economic wealth."

Little said the average pay rise was now five per cent. Based on the average income of $38,000, that would have delivered $1900 a year to each person affected by the 16 stoppages.

"Collectively that's $9 million more in the pockets of working people ... Those 4741 people [involved in strikes in the June quarter] lost $1.367 million in wages, so they're more than $7.6 million better off," he said.

- NZPA