Lifeblood has confirmed that the Access Period is open for the proposed General Enterprise Agreement 2026, meaning it will go to vote next week.
- Vote opens: Tuesday 6 October 2026, 10am AEDT (7:00am AWST)
- Vote closes: Wednesday 7 October 2026, 5pm AEDT (2:00pm AWST)
HSUWA’s view remains consistent below. We note one change that Lifeblood has agreed to: Annual Leave Loading in WA will be maintained for the fifth week of Annual Leave. However, this will still be at 17.5%, which is a reduction for people who primarily work shifts on weekends.
To date, none of the HSU’s Combined Log of Claims items have been agreed to in full.
Lifeblood’s Offer is summarised for major items below:
Wage Offer
- 3.5% from 1 September 2026
- 4.0% from 1 September 2027
- Pay for Performance from 1 September 2028 (2 – 6%).
There are no safeguards written into the legally enforceable Enterprise Agreement. There won’t be a way to challenge an adverse outcome under the Enterprise Agreement. There won’t be established frameworks or explanations as to how THRIVE works under the Enterprise Agreement. Following from the previous SouthWest Enterprise Agreement, Lifeblood have removed yearly increments in favour of the above THRIVE Pay for Performance model.
Reduction in Annual Leave Loading Entitlement in WA
- The entitlement to be paid the weekend or shift penalties you would otherwise have received whilst on Annual Leave has been removed. Annual Leave Loading is now the standard 17.5%. This will predominantly affect staff who work more shifts which attract shift penalties.
Changes to Shifts (Morning, Afternoon, Night)
- For all States except for Victoria and Tasmania:
- Morning Shifts will receive 15% loading and will apply to the hours worked between 04:00 and 06:30 given the start time of the shift is also within that range.
- Afternoon Shifts will receive 17.5% loading and will apply to rostered shifts that finish after 18:00 and before 00:00.
- Night Shifts will receive 25% loading and will apply to rostered shifts that commences between 22:00 and 04:00 or finishes between 00:00 and 07:00.
On Call Rates in WA
- Lifeblood have confirmed that the rates currently received by WA employees will not increase as they have done in past agreements. They will be maintained at $7.39 per hour for the Standard Rate and $8.13 per hour for the On-Call in excess of 7 consecutive days in a pay fortnight.
Higher Duties
- Lifeblood have confirmed that their position is that Higher Duties one level up will be the most likely arrangement, therefore the 20% allowance is sufficient. Previously, if you acted two levels above, you would have received a 45% allowance.
10 Hour Break
- Lifeblood have proposed that if you have had a previous 10-hour break between the end of your shift and a Recall and that Recall is within 2 hours of your next rostered shift, you will not be eligible for another 10-hour break. Instead, you will work ordinary hours having commenced at the time of Recall and finish that much earlier than your rostered finish time.
We encourage Members to vote NO with your colleagues across the country to fight for a better deal.