The numbers of work days lost as a result of industrial disputes in 2007 were the lowest since records began, according to the Labour Relations Commission (LRC).
The commission's annual report, which was launched by Minister for Labour Affairs Billy Kelleher today, reveals that 6,000 work days were lost last year in six strikes, an historic low.
In 2006, 7,352 work days were lost in 10 strikes, while 26,670 days were lost as a result of 16 industrial disputes in 2005.
Over 80 per cent of disputes referred to the commission last year were resolved. These included disputes involving employees at Aer Lingus, Eircom, ESB and Dublin Bus.
Overall, nearly 2,000 conciliation meetings were held at the LRC last year, the report reveals.
The commission received approximately 10,500 referrals to its Advisory, Conciliation, Mediation and Employment Rights Services during the year.
The rights commissioner service recorded a 26 per cent rise in referrals in 2007 from 7,179 to 9.077. That trend is continuing with more than 6,000 referrals made to the service during the first seven months of 2008.
"A particular feature of the service over the last two years is the increased involvement of a number of law firms, advocacy rights groups and citizen information centres in the referral of multiple cases in various employment laws," said LRC chief executive Kieran Mulvey.
Since 2000, the level of LRC referrals has exceeded the 50,000 mark.
The commission said it anticipates over 10,000 referrals on employment rights to the service this year.
According to Mr Mulvey, 70 per cent more hearings took place at the commission in the first six months of the year compared to the same period in 2007.
A total of 3,800 hearings took place during the first half of 2008.
