For the first time since records began more than 20 years ago, no working days were lost to industrial disputes in the third quarter of this year, from July to September.
This compares with four disputes in the third quarter of 2006 and comes as more than 60,000 Dublin commuters are now forced to make alternative travel arrangements for a fifth day as a strike by some Dublin Bus drivers continues.
The figures, released yesterday by the Central Statistics Office, show that in the third quarter of 2006, 209 workers were involved in disputes that caused the loss of 1,054 working days.
In the nine months to the end of September, just three disputes were registered, compared with nine in the same period last year. A total of 2,097 days were lost as a result this year, less than a third of the number lost in the same period last year.
However, the positive record set in the third quarter will not be repeated in the final three months of the year as the bus drivers' strike looks set to continue into next week. In addition, commentators were not optimistic yesterday that industrial action by Aer Lingus cabin crew scheduled for next week would be averted.
It is feared the strike, over proposed changes to working practices, could lead to a full shutdown of the airline.
The manufacturing sector accounted for just over 57 per cent of the total days lost in the first nine months.
