"Labour disputes led to 758,800 working days being lost in the UK in 2008. In total, there were 144 stoppages of work, 94 per cent of which were in the public sector. This article analyses the three main measures of labour disputes - working days lost, stoppages and workers involved - by industry, region, cause, size and duration. The statistics are put into context by considering estimates of working days lost per 1,000 employees and working time lost through strikes as a proportion of time actually worked. Data are taken from a number of sources including regular centralised returns from some industries and public bodies, as well as directly from the employer or trade union involved after ONS has been notified of a dispute from press reports. "

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