Almost 1,500 working days were lost because of industrial disputes in the first six months of 2005, according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) today.
Six disputes began or were in progress in the first six months of the year, involving six firms and a total of 1,463 days lost.
This compares to 5,370 days lost to industrial disputes for the same period last year, according to the CSO.
Five of the six disputes this year began in the second quarter. During that period, the construction sector accounted for 45 per cent of the total days lost, and just over 25 per cent were accounted for by the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector.
Some 640 days were lost due to a stoppage at Gama construction following a row over unpaid overtime, while a dispute at the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association also cost a large number of days.
Strike action affected work at Waterford City Council, Dunnes Stores in Limerick, Format Construction Dublin and Harrington's Quarries. Between April and June there were 1,340 days lost to strike action, this compares to 2,801 for the same period last year.