A total of 3,316 days were lost to industrial disputes in the second quarter of 2009, the latest figures from the Central Statistics show. This compares with 727 for the same time last year.
The CSO says that six disputes began in the second quarter of this year involving 1,497 workers in six companies.
It also says that there were nine disputes going on in the first six months of the year, involving 13,516 workers. A total of 14,643 days were lost.
Today's figures reveal that the public administration and defence sector accounted for over 75% of the total days lost in the first six months of 2009.
