Work stoppages in 2008 involved nearly 5,000 employees nationwide, with losses of more than 8 thousand person-days of work.

Acting CEO of the Otago Southland Employers Association, Diana Hudson, says there was only one recorded stoppage locally.

Hudson says in Dunedin there are a large number of smaller employers, and it seems we work a little harder in our relationships with our employees.

Nationally, work stoppages cost the country more than $2 million dollars in wages and salaries