DAVE WARD, speaking at the RMT’s packed AGM in Birmingham torday, hailed the rail union as “inspirational” for its national strike action.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) general secretary said that this year offers trade unions an opportunity to “win and build.”

Last month, the CWU won a huge mandate for the first strike action at BT in 35 years.

Mr Ward said: “Trade unions need to commit to agreeing bargaining agendas across sectors of the economy.

“We should set the standards for sectoral bargaining and sign up to the same agenda. 

“Imagine how powerful that would be?”

Mr Ward also argued that there was a need for unions to build links with the wider community, including resuming the use of town hall meetings as a tool to engage the public.

He said: “A strand of the new deal for workers is bringing working-class people back together again. 

“We must end the manufactured divisions and trade unions have to lead the way in bridging the divides in society designed to keep us apart.

“I am a great believer that trade unions need to lead the way in fighting against racism, poverty and all forms of inequality.”

Looking to the industrial campaigns ahead for CWU and RMT, Mr Ward said that unions must start to “rebuild collectivism” as well as winning concessions in disputes.

He added: “In the CWU, we want every branch to affiliate to a community organisation.

“I’ve never seen more activism in the UK. The trouble is a lot of it is outside the trade union movement and it is our job to bring it all together.”