COST OF STRIKES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 161, 27 March 1918, Page 8

COST OF STRIKES

£2,641,735 LOST LAST YEAR. As the result of investigations made by tho Commonwealth Statistician (nir. ivmbbs), it has been ascertained that tliero were 444 industrial disputes in Australia during 1917. Altogether 1941 establishments were affected, and 173,9/0 employees were involved. The number of working days lost "totalled 4,089,316, and the loss in wages is estimated at £2,641,735. Although there were SUB disputes during the previous year, thoy were not so protracted, and the loss in wages is set down at £967,604. j The greatest number of the disputes ' occurred in New South Wales, where 296 stoppages occurred, affecting 918 establishments and 134,022 employees. Tho wage loss was estimated at £1,943,074. Victoria was next with 52 disputes, entailing a wage loss of £409,751. After careful consideration of tho data it has been ascertained that 78 disputes throughout the various States were directly associated with the action of the employees at the railway workshops. Of these disputes 52 occurred in New South Wales, 18 in Victoria, three in South Australia, and two in each of the remaining States. Tho total number of workpeople involved in these dis locations was 97,507, the loss in working days was 3,982,251), with a consequent estimated loss in wages of £2,233,000. In New South Wales the loss of wages is estimated at £1,780,000; in Victoria, £325,500; in Queensland, £62,000; in South Australia, £7400; in West Australia, £42,300',aud in Tasmania, £15,800.

Of the total number of workpeople involved (97,507) 77,357, or 79 per cent, were resident in New South Wales; 14,200, or 15 per cent., in Victoria; 2350, or 2 per cent., in Queensland ; and tho remaining 3600, or 4 pet cent., in the other States.

In connection with the estimated loss of wages in various industries, workpeople in tho mining section suffered to the greatest extent, no less than £781/250, or 35 percent, of tho total estimated loss, being recorded as the loss to employees engaged in coal and other mining. Other industries in which the workpeople lost large sums in wages were shipping and wharf labouring (£609,690, or 27 per cent.); railway and tramway services (£354,310, or 16 per cent.); general transport of goods (£124,000, or 6 per cent.); and manufacturing industries, including engineering and timber working (£244,690, or 11 per cent.).