114,613 days were lost to industrial disputes last year, an increase of 18.1% on 2000, according to the Central Statistics Office.
The number of disputes fell, however, from 39 to 26. These affected over 32,000 workers in 58 firms. The number of disputes which actually began in 2001 was 24, the lowest figure since 1970.
The teachers' dispute accounted for over 80% of the days lost in the first quarter of 2001, and just under 65% of the total for the whole year.
