THE Construction Mining Forestry and Energy Union (CFMEU) has released statistics that show productivity, growth, wages, conditions and workforce stability are higher at mines covered by Awards Wage Agreements (AWAs).   
The Howard Government, with the support of large mining companies like BHP Billiton, is promoting a myth that AWAs are essential for the mining industry.
That is completely wrong,” CFMEU general president Tony Maher said.  
He was responding to BHP’s support for the Howard Government’s AWA campaign.   
“Recent Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data (6306, Feb 2007) underlines that Australian mining does not rely on AWAs with just 31% of workers in metal ore mines, and only 16% of the mining industry’s workforce on AWAs,” Maher said.  
“Sectors of the mining industry that rely on individual and common law contracts have very high labour turnover – about 40% per year – indicating that workers are not happy with wages or the hours.”

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