Their pay increases of between 13.7% and 18% over three years brings them wage parity with some of the best paid in the industry.
The deal also includes the introduction of a new career structure for staff, an increase of the minimum shift length to four hours for most staff and the introduction of an anti-discrimination and bullying policy.
But it hasn’t been an easy ride for the carers, cleaners and caterers at Hall & Prior’s 13 nursing homes in WA.

Industrial action vote
On Christmas Eve, the Industrial Relations Commission ruled in favour of allowing LHMU members to vote on taking industrial action. This was after workers had been foiled repeatedly in their attempts to negotiate in good faith with Hall & Prior.
Even though 85% of the members who voted backed taking industrial action, the ballot was not valid because not enough people sent back their ballots on time.
The second ballot was conducted in the workplace in February and so members and delegates worked incredibly hard to ensure a high turnout, even driving their fellow members to the vote.
Hundreds of member calls were made and delegates aided the aged care team with precise mapping of workers’ shift patterns to help ensure a successful yes vote in favour of taking industrial action.
But between the first and second industrial action ballots, Hall & Prior management put out a non union agreement of an 11.5% rise over three years. Union members then worked diligently to ensure a strong ‘no’ vote among staff.

Radio advert
As the pressure on Hall & Prior management mounted, a radio advert was run on Perth talkback station 6PR and union members spoke anonymously to the media about their poor wages and the difficulties they faced with understaffing and budget cuts in the homes.
Within days, management improved their offer and delegates signed it off in March. Members voted up the union agreement in April.
Christine Lizars, a carer at Hall and Prior Kensington Park said: “It took us a very long time but our perseverance won through.
“The non union agreement would have been disastrous. We would have been stuffed.
“It was a long, hard slog but the end result is definitely something to crow about.”
Dave Kelly, LHMU Branch Secretary said: “This was an incredibly difficult and long campaign against an often hostile management. But its success proves that union strength, member commitment and hard work can bring excellent results.
“Aged care workers do an incredibly important yet undervalued job looking after the older generations. Hall & Prior workers know this and they fought tooth and nail for a deal which will improve their situation.”