THE whole trade union movement must work with local trades councils to “organise the unorganised and bring unionism back to all workers” nationwide, TUC annual congress delegates demanded today.

Members gathered in Brighton unanimously backed a motion which stressed that Britain’s 150 local trades councils — elected groups of trade unionists in towns and cities — are an “essential link for the union movement into our local communities.”

It noted the success of the partnership between food workers’ union BFAWU and Sheffield Trades Union Council, which funded a union organiser to galvanise young workers in difficult-to-reach sectors such as hospitality and win significant pay boosts.

The model, which has been extended to Leeds and Rotherham, should be replicated nationwide by larger unions which have more resources, the motion said.

Unite’s Peter Billington said 2022’s growing strike wave means there is “every opportunity for bigger unions to take up the initiative,” while Prison Officers’ Association deputy general secretary Joe Simpson said it would help to “rebuild the union movement from the grassroots up.”

BFAWU general secretary Sarah Woolley urged delegates to volunteer for Organise Now, a new drive to help non-unionised workers organise.