The latest information that has been published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that the number of working days lost to strikes rose sharply from 157,400 days in 2005 to 754,500 in 2006.
This was the highest level that has been reported since 2004 although it is still significantly below the average annual levels reported in the 1970’s and 1980’s of, respectively, 12.9 million days and 7.2 million days.
According to the ONS statistics, more than 80% of the working days lost to strikes in 2006 involved public sector workers with the largest stoppage being a 24 hour strike of local Government workers over proposed changes to their pension scheme.
The ONS statistics also show that the majority of stoppages were very short with 67% of all days lost through strikes in 2006 coming from stoppages that lasted for no more than 24 hours.
It would also appear that unions are continuing to use strike ballots as a negotiating tool rather than as a prelude to industrial action. In 2006, unions held 1,341 ballots calling for strike action with 1,290 of these resulting in a majority voting for industrial action to be taken. However, these 1,290 ballots for industrial action only resulted in 15% stoppages actually taking place.