Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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Page 117
Special feature
117
Special feature
International
comparisons of labour
disputes in 2004
Key points
Introduction
his article continues a regular
series of international labour
dispute features and presents
statistics on labour disputes in
member countries of the
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD) and the European Union
(EU) between 1995 and 2004. In
2004 ten countries joined the EU,
increasing membership to 25
countries; we have presented data for
these countries where available.
Statistics for international
comparisons are always a little
behind those available for the UK
alone. More recent figures for the
UK are presented in Tables I.11 and
I.12 in the tables section of Labour
Market Trends. For a detailed
analysis of labour disputes in the UK
in 2004, see pp239-52, Labour
Market Trends, June 2005.
A number of countries have been
unable to supply data on labour
disputes for 2004 as yet. France and
Belgium have not supplied statistics
for the last three years; Czech
Republic, Turkey and Japan do not
By Rachel Beardsmore, Employment, Earnings and Productivity Division, Office for National Statistics
7:59 pm
Page 118
Special feature
Strike rate
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
ain
Sp
ly
Ita
us
do
ng
Un
ite
Ki
Cy
pr
k
ar
nm
De
lan
d
Fin
l
Po
Ire
ga
rtu
alt
lan
er
ds
y
ar
th
ng
ed
Ne
Hu
en
0
an
Working days not worked per thousand employees (strike rate); EU;
2004
Sw
Overall comparisons
Figure
rm
Ge
118
27/3/06
lan
Figure
Strike rate
120
EU Average
United Kingdom
100
80
60
40
20
0
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004a
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Page 119
Table
Special feature
Labour disputes: working days not worked per 1,000 employeesa in all industries and services; 1995-2004
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
1995-99
2000-04
1995-04
Percentage
change
1995-99 to
2000-04
18
0
33
85
493
300
8
132
65
60
115
20
157
177
55
0
48
32
11
57
3
110
137
2
1
17
165
17
10
6
13
42
56
42
2
69
84
0
2
25
182
7
11
0
28
1317
70
51
1
32
40
0
5
28
121
0
10
0
8
38
10
64
2
168
62
0
11
19
132
22
20
1
8
51
126
114
0
72
59
5
1
11
296
0
20
0
54
24
30
82
1
82
67
0
6
11
152
3
51
3
*
79
36
*
10
15
311
0
35
29
379
0
19
398
*
23
42
*
5
26
124
0
2
15
59
164
34
0
*
31
21
*
2
14
44
0
9
12
306
4
21
1
26
306
124
102
3
102
77
12
26
22
150
45
29
81
*
42
51
*
4
41
122
1
11
16
238
34
25
41
*
172
85
*
3
68
100
6
18
19
200
39
38
8000
*
-86
-59
*
33
-60
58
-92
-58
-27
59
-24
96
53
37
53
36
60
43
109
50
57
54
63
59
17
*
*
0R
7R
*
*
*
*
0R
2R
*
*
*
*
3R
0R
*
*
*
*
0R
0R
*
*
35
*
0
0
11
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
1
2
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
46R
7R
0R
*
2R
0R
0R
*
0R
0R
0R
*
1R
1R
0R
*
6
0
0
*
*
*
*
*
11
2
0
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
49
Averageb
United Kingdom
Austria
Belgium
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
EU14 averagec
Cyprus
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Malta
Slovenia
Czech Republic
Hungary
Poland
Slovakia
EU24 averagec
Iceland
Norway
Switzerland
Turkey
Australia
Canada
Japan
New Zealand
United States
OECD averaged
1887
27
0
566
0
286
2
30
292
4
0
19
557
141
7
29
0
3
1
23
368
239
1
35
1571
0
6
28
0
72
6
4
0
0
2
14
1052
68
10
*
535
91
2
124
623
76
5
*
581
83
4
*
16
-16
150
*
79
133
1
41
51
131
280
1
51
42
77
296
2
18
38
72
196
2
9
42
89
190
2
12
16
61
125
1
8
161
51
162
1
37
9
33
218
0
23
5
54
122
0
13
32
46
226
*
4
8
89
218
2
26
38
49
171
*
17
43
68
193
*
21
40
-45
-22
*
-35
13
77
51
41
46
29
86R
27R
47R
35R
39
48
47
48
-2
Sources for working days not worked: ILO; Eurostat; national statistical offices
Sources for employees: OECD; national statistical offices
a Some employee figures have been estimated.
b Annual averages for those years within each period for which data are available, weighted for employment.
c Greece no longer collects data on labour disputes; the European Union average therefore excludes Greece.
d From 2000 the OECD average includes Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia.
R Revised.
* No data available.
119
7:59 pm
Page 120
Special feature
120
27/3/06
Figure
European Union
OECD
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1995-99
1996-00
1997-01
1998-02
1999-03
2000-04
Comparisons by industry
One particular characteristic of
labour disputes is the variation
between industries in the incidence
of strikes; some industries such as
27/3/06
7:59 pm
Page 121
Table
Special feature
Labour disputes: working days not worked per 1,000 employeesa in the production and construction
industries; 1995-2004
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
1995-99
2000-04
1995-04
Percentage
change
1995-99 to
2000-04
United Kingdom
Austria
Belgium
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
15
0
115
212
28
112
19
60
92
*
443
43
286
13
20
0
135
102
21
58
7
116
308
*
4
32
320
0
19
0
48
99
48
52
3
45
164
*
7
56
349
2
9
0
26
3215
37
43
1
29
62
*
2
39
253
2
20
0
20
94
20
79
6
81
116
*
15
20
135
2
20
0
28
112
280R
82
0
43
62
*
2
11
534
0
15
0
157
70
16R
30
2
41
126
*
6
15
363
9
8
*
*
124
107R
*
27R
22
83
*
152
40
60
1
16
*
*
60
88R
*
15R
8
80
*
1
18
101
26
8
*
*
97
43
*
5
7
48
0
7
12
174
17
17
*
69
751
31
69
7
66
148
*
92
37
264
4
13
*
*
93
107
*
10
24
80
*
33
20
236
10
15
*
*
432
70
*
8
43
114
*
62
28
248
7
-24
*
*
-88
245
*
43
-64
-46
*
-64
-46
-11
150
EU14 averagec
(84)
(89)
(69)
(97)
(48)
(84)
(69)
(47)
(42R)
(42)
(78)
(59)
(69)
-24
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
123
*
0
0
0
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
0R
3R
0R
*
2R
0R
0R
*
0R
0R
0R
*
1R
2R
0R
*
0
0
0
*
*
*
*
*
1
1
0
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
(35)
Averageb
Cyprus
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Malta
Slovenia
Czech Republic
Hungary
Poland
Slovakia
EU24 averagec
Iceland
Norway
Switzerland
Turkey
*
1
*
1028
*
1106
*
57
*
13
*
39
*
12
*
31
*
8
*
53
*
842
*
55
*
0
*
62
*
131
*
6
*
1
*
31
*
241
12
*
*
224
*
224
*
246
*
*
*
235
*
*
*
10
*
*
263
328
1
72
188
383
349
1
54
116
237
319
1
42
78
235
336
1
7
137
250
272
1
7
62
186
182
1
27
54
221
220
0
70
14
128
192
0
16
11
163
228
0
56
4
110
230
*
5
4
274
320
1
36
116
161
211
*
34
18
216
262
*
35
68
-41
-34
*
-6
-84
(96)
(67)
(97)
(54)
(62R)
(44R)
(30R)
(29R)
(36)
(92)
(41)
(67)
-55
Australia
Canada
Japan
New Zealand
United States
Sources for working days not worked: ILO; Eurostat; national statistical offices
Sources for employees: OECD; national statistical offices
See footnotes to Table 1.
( ) Brackets indicate averages based on incomplete data.
* No data available.
121
122
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Page 122
Special feature
Table
Labour disputes: working days not worked per 1,000 employeesa in the service industries; 1994-2003
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
1995-99
2000-04
1995-04
Percentage
change
1995-99 to
2000-04
United Kingdom
Austria
Belgium
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
20
0
0
9
718
282
1
173
44
*
12
7
74
241
66
0
15
3
8
58
1
111
32
*
0
8
99
24
7
9
0
20
62
35
1
85
33
*
1
8
116
9
12
0
30
494
75
54
0
34
22
*
6
20
39
0
7
0
4
5
5
68
1
214
33
*
11
10
61
29
20
1
1
14
52
128
0
87
57
*
1
11
197
0
22
0
5
5
36
102
0
102
35
*
7
9
37
1
62
*
*
9
9
*
1
12
43
*
4
20
50
0
20
*
*
3
11
*
0
33
37
*
2
13
25
208
40
*
*
6
13
*
0
16
43
0
0
13
49
0
22
2
10
108
166
98
1
124
33
*
6
11
77
60
33
*
*
7
24
*
0
49
43
*
3
13
68
43
28
*
*
56
91
*
1
81
38
*
4
12
72
51
50
*
*
-94
-86
*
-100
-60
30
*
-50
18
-12
-28
EU14 averagec
(84)
(37)
(22)
(30)
(26)
(51)
(32)
(30)
(23)
(23)
(39)
(32)
(36)
-18
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
8
*
0
0
16
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
78R
10R
0R
*
3R
1R
0R
*
0R
0R
0R
*
1R
0R
0R
*
9
0
0
*
*
*
*
*
18
2
0
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
(20)
Averageb
Cyprus
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Malta
Slovenia
Czech Republic
Hungary
Poland
Slovakia
EU24 averagec
Iceland
Norway
Switzerland
Turkey
Australia
Canada
Japan
New Zealand
United States
OECD averaged
*
37
*
139
*
30
*
10
*
0
*
4
*
185
*
30
*
2
*
2
*
67
*
1
*
0
*
3
*
56
*
3
*
0
*
1
*
22
11
*
*
52
*
35
*
29
*
*
*
40
*
*
*
-44
*
*
26
70
2
31
6
61
251
1
49
19
32
294
3
9
25
28
102
3
9
12
47
158
2
13
2
28
100
1
2
198
8
150
1
33
8
9
236
0
30
4
27
87
0
0
41
31
229
*
3
9
39
175
1
22
13
21
162
*
13
51
29
168
*
17
33
-46
-7
*
-41
292
(40)
(33)
(31)
(23)
(18)
(97R)
(20R)
(21R)
(27R)
(22)
(29)
(38)
(33)
31
Sources for working days not worked: ILO; Eurostat; national statistical offices
Sources for employees: OECD; national statistical offices
See footnotes to Table 1.
( ) Brackets indicate averages based on incomplete data.
* No data available.
27/3/06
7:59 pm
Page 123
Figure
Special feature
4a
Services
150
100
50
0
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Source: ONS
Figure
4b
Services
150
100
50
0
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Source: ONS
123
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Page 124
Special feature
124
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Coverage and
comparability
Because of the differences in
coverage and definitions,
international comparisons of labour
dispute statistics need to be made
with care; in particular, differences in
27/3/06
7:59 pm
Page 125
125
Notes
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Further information
For further information, contact:
Rachel Beardsmore,
Room 2001,
Office for National Statistics,
Cardiff Road,
Newport NP10 8XG,
E-mail:
rachel.beardsmore@ons.gov.uk
Tel: 01633 819174.
Special feature
126
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Page 126
Special feature
Technical note
Are political
stoppages
included?
Are indirectly
affected
workers
included?
United Kingdom
No
Yes
Australia
Yes
Yes
Austria
No restrictions on size.
Yes
No
Belgium
No restrictions on size.
Excluding public sector
stoppages.
Yes
No
Canada
Yes
No
Cyprus
Three-quarters of a day
duration.
No
Yes
Czech Republic
No restrictions on size.
Yes
Yes
Denmark
Yes
Yes
Estonia
Not known.
Not
known
Not
known
No information.
Finland
Yes
Yes
France
Yes
Yes
27/3/06
7:59 pm
Page 127
Special feature
Technical note
Are political
stoppages
included?
Are indirectly
affected
workers
included?
Germany
Yes
No
Hungary
10 workers involved.
No
No
Iceland
Restrictions on size.
Not
known
No
No information.
Ireland
Yes
Yes
Italy
No restrictions on size.
Yes
No
Japan
No
Latvia
Not known.
Not
known
Not
known
No information.
Lithuania
Not known.
Not
known
Not
known
No information.
Luxembourg
No information.
Not
known
Not
known
No information.
Malta
No restrictions on size.
No
No
Netherlands
No restrictions on size.
Yes
Yes
New Zealand
Yes
Yes
127
128
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Page 128
Special feature
Technical note
Are political
stoppages
included?
Are indirectly
affected
workers
included?
Norway
Yes
No
Poland
Yes
Yes
Portugal
Yes
No
Slovakia
No restrictions on size.
Yes
Yes
Slovenia
Not known.
Not
known
Not
known
No information.
Spain
Yes
No
Sweden
Yes
No
Switzerland
Yes
Yes
Turkey
No restriction on size.
Excluding energy services
and most public services;
excluding general strikes.
No
Yes
United States
No
Yes
Source: ILO sources and method, Labour Statistics, Vol 7. Strikes and lockouts (Geneva, 1993); and ILOs statistical website:
laborsta.ilo.org