There was an increase in the number of days lost to industrial disputes in the 3rd quarter when compared to the same period last year.

Between July and September 571 were days lost to industrial disputes in Ireland and that compares to 93 days during the same 3 months in 2011.

According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO) there was just 1 dispute in progress in the 3rd quarter of 2012 involving 400 workers and one firm. 

Meanwhile 5 disputes in total were in progress over the first 9 months of the year involving 1,920 workers and resulting in 8,486 days lost.

Sectors worst hit

The body says disputes are included if they involve a stoppage of work lasting for at least 1 day and the total time lost is 10 or more person-days.

It says no allowance is made for loss of work from unemployment or other causes (such as bad weather) which might have happened even if there was no dispute. 

The sector of transportation and storage accounted for the only industrial dispute recorded in Q3.

But in terms of the wider first 9 months of the year industry saw the biggest hit.

This sector lost 6,114 days due to industrial disputes followed by the retail trade and transportation.