There were 44,015 working days lost to industrial disputes last year compared to 14,965 days lost in 2013. There were a total of eleven industrial disputes in 2014 compared with twelve in 2013. The eleven disputes in progress in 2014 involved 31,665 workers and eleven firms, whereas 11,924 workers and twelve firms were involved in industrial disputes in 2013. Two disputes in the Education sector accounted for 54pc of the days lost in 2014, with 23,770 of the 44,015 total days lost. There were three disputes in progress in the fourth quarter of 2014 involving 27,092 workers and three firms. One industrial dispute began in the fourth quarter of 2014 and two disputes carried over from the third quarter. The one-day teachers' dispute in the fourth quarter involved 27,000 workers and it accounted for a total of 23,500 days lost. For more visit www.businessworld.ie