A reminder of what strong union membership can achieve.
The United Services Union has secured a series of major improvements in the new IMB Bank Enterprise Agreement, demonstrating the power of a united and organised workforce. While these wins directly benefit IMB members, they also stand as a clear message to workers everywhere: when union members stand together, they deliver real and lasting change.
The new agreement provides real wage growth over three years, with increases of 5.5% in 2025, 3.5% in 2026 and 3.5% in 2027. This represents a total uplift of 12.5%, placing the outcome above many comparable agreements in the finance sector and significantly ahead of previous IMB Bank wage outcomes. Importantly, salary tables for the full three-year period will be embedded in the agreement, giving every employee complete transparency over their pay progression.
Consultation rights have also been strengthened, giving employees clearer representation rights and placing stronger obligations on IMB to properly consider and respond to matters raised by staff. This ensures that members have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect their working lives.
A significant milestone in this agreement is that the USU will also be formally named and recognised as a party to the agreement for the first time. This formal recognition sends a strong message to all staff about the union’s important and legitimate place within the industrial framework at IMB Bank. It reinforces the essential role the union plays in protecting and advancing workers’ rights.
For the first time, the agreement will also include a dedicated Workplace Delegates Rights Clause. This formally recognises USU workplace delegates, ensures they have access to staff and reasonable resources, and provides paid union training leave of five days in the first year and three days each year afterwards. This is a significant step forward in empowering members and strengthening local representation across the business.
Casual employees will benefit from stronger conversion rights. The agreement introduces a clear definition of regular and systematic work and reduces the qualifying period for conversion from twelve months down to six. This delivers a faster, fairer pathway to secure employment.
Flexibility provisions have been enhanced to ensure more transparent and consistent decision-making. IMB will now be required to meet clearer timeframes and provide written responses to all flexibility requests. Members will also benefit from the introduction of a Right to Disconnect, ensuring the ability to switch off outside working hours and reinforcing healthier work–life boundaries.
In addition, IMB has committed to reviewing the travel policy with the intention of reducing the travel distance required for employees to be eligible for accommodation when attending training. This is a positive step towards ensuring fairer, more supportive arrangements for staff.
These outcomes reflect the strength and commitment of USU members throughout IMB Bank. Their unity, participation and support gave the bargaining team the leverage needed to secure such significant and progressive improvements. Strong agreements are only possible with strong union membership and this result is a clear example of the power workers can achieve when they stand together.
