3,417 days lost due to strikes

A total of 3,417 employee working days were lost due to industrial disputes — the vast majority down to May’s Bus Eireann strike — in the second quarter of the year.

Figures published by the CSO yesterday show that the number marked a considerable improvement on the corresponding three-month period last year, when 7,754 days — 56% more — were lost.

However, the period was also significantly up on the first quarter of the year, when just 228 days were lost to disputes.

The second quarter of 2013 saw three disputes in progress, involving a total of 2,408 workers. As well as Bus Eireann, there was a 14-man strike at the Shanganagh Waste Water Treatment facility — which treats water for nearly 250,000 domestic and commercial users in Dublin and Wicklow — regarding pay and shift rates, which was settled after three days.

Also included in the second-quarter data was the industrial action involving workers at Kells Credit Union in Co Meath — which began in late June over a perceived failure by management to recognise employees’ union, Siptu for collective bargaining purposes.

As that action began again earlier this month and is ongoing, data for lost working days will also be included in the CSO’s third-quarter industrial dispute data, which will be published towards the end of the year.

“One dispute in the transportation and storage sector accounted for 99% of the total days lost in the second quarter of 2013,” the CSO said, alluding to the strike action taken by Bus Eireann workers in response to a cost-reduction plan.

Last year, as a whole, 8,486 days were lost due to industrial action; considerably up on the 3,695 lost in 2011 and even the 6,602 total in 2010.