Lifeblood – Stop Bleeding Your Workers

Red Cross Lifeblood proposes a single enterprise agreement to cover nurses and other donor centre workers nationally.

ANMF is negotiating with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood to achieve a fair new national agreement to cover its members working in donor centres and other locations around Australia. Lifeblood employs registered nurses, enrolled nurses, nursing assistants (DSNAs) and other workers, to ensure the nation’s supply of blood products, including whole blood, platelets and plasma, is supplied to hospitals and other health providers.

On Sunday 10 September 2023, ANMF held its first ever national mass member meeting online. This meeting was attended by hundreds of members. ANMF members heard from their colleagues from around Australia about the conditions Lifeblood proposes, such as freezing progression for many nurses and DSNAs working at lower pay points at pay point 4. Lifeblood proposes that new nurses who join them after the agreement is approved by the Fair Work Commission (FWC) would be appointed somewhere in a pay range, with no transparency. Members unanimously endorsed a motion on how to progress bargaining.

On Sunday 15 October 2023, ANMF members met again to consider further report backs from members. Hundreds of members endorsed a motion for FWC assistance and for branches to consult with members about taking protected industrial action, if Lifeblood would not revise its approach to bargaining.

On Friday 27 October 2023, ANMF lodged a bargaining dispute application under the Fair Work Act 2009. ANMF is seeking the assistance of the FWC to resolve the numerous issues we have with the contents of the proposed agreement and Lifeblood’s conduct during negotiations. The matter number is B2023/1184.

For more information, and to join the campaign, contact your local ANMF branch.

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