Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows that industrial dispute levels have fallen to a new record low. The building and construction industry appears to be experiencing a period of relative industrial peace.
Remarkable construction industry figures correspond with ABCC’s first year
The key statistic for tracking levels of industrial disputation is working days lost per 1,000 employees. The rate of disputation in the industry for the September 2006 quarter was a low 1.6 working days lost per thousand employees. In the corresponding quarter in 2005 the rate of disputation in the industry was 37.4 working days lost per thousand employees.
The decrease in industrial disputation is highlighted further when assessing the level and rate of industrial disputation in the construction industry over the past decade. The September quarter in 1996 recorded a staggering 263.9 working days lost per thousand employees.
The September 2006 quarter completes the first year where the ABCC has been operational for the entire period. The remarkably low level of industrial disputation suggests that workplace reforms in the construction industry are having a positive effect on both industrial conduct and productivity.