THE annual TUC Trades Councils (TC) conference took place at Congress House on May 24-25, providing an opportunity for trades councils to come together and reflect on their role in promoting working-class solidarity, culture, and community.

What TCs are and do is well documented. According to the TUC, “Trades councils promote working-class solidarity in local communities.” Mary Adossides explained in an article for the Morning Star in 2024 that TCs are groups of trade unionists who live or work in a local area, with the strongest councils being those with the most local union branches affiliated and embedded in their communities. This improves their chances of leading united and successful campaigns.

Despite the undoubted value of TCs, there is limited evidence and media coverage explaining their impact on modern society. Indeed, as Dave Chapple, South West TUC Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) representative, alluded to at the recent General Federation of Trade Unions conference, TCs need to become more focused on the what, rather than the how — arguing that councils should be about building solidarity in the community, not about ageing male left-wingers discussing motions. This may explain why awareness of TCs is low among the general public and why trade union branch affiliation to TCs varies across Britain.

Uniquely placed in communities

Russ Hickman, branch chair of Northampton TC, feels that “trades councils are uniquely placed to bring together a multitude of local groups, highlighting how class and cultural issues are shared across diverse communities, and providing a voice to those who are typically unheard.”

Anjona Roy, Northampton TC Branch Secretary, believes that TCs, including Northampton, organise and promote powerful activities which benefit their communities. “North Staffordshire TUC collaborated with the University of Staffordshire to produce a report which demonstrated the violent consequences of austerity policies on coalfield and deindustrialised areas of Britain, including Staffordshire, highlighting that current plans will only exacerbate inequalities.”

Roy further detailed how Northampton TC has organised or promoted activities which are salient across Northamptonshire, such as a black women’s domestic abuse conference. “It’s not well known that a disproportionate number of homicides involve black women in Northamptonshire, many of who have suffered domestic abuse. The conference demonstrated that this is a workplace issue and that employers need to be prepared to support women who decide to talk about this while in the workplace.”

Both Hickman and Roy feel the work of TCs plays a significant role in ensuring trade unions remain relevant in current and future society, as well as in shaping the local economy. Hickman said: “Northampton is no longer a boot and shoe town, and Northamptonshire is probably more known for warehousing now — an industry with low union membership.”

Roy concurred with this view, adding: “TCs can use the past to demonstrate what is possible in unorganised workplaces. Trade unions have the potential to improve workers’ quality of life and the opportunities available to them, in an environment where we’ve had austerity for 15-plus years.”

Both Hickman and Roy also feel TCs have a role to play in developing the skills and aspirations of young workers, as well as in building the organising capabilities of branch activists.

Hickman feels that TCs can support younger workers’ career development through unique development opportunities. Roy believes TCs have a wealth of knowledge which can support activists and enhance the work of trade union regional offices, which are busier than ever thanks to the current political landscape.

Untapped potential

Tony Conway has been involved with a number of TCs across the Midlands and is currently vice president of Cornwall TC. Conway believes that the number of retired members in some TCs is hindering their ability to build solidarity within communities. “The connection between the workplace and the TC has been lost in some TCs because there are fewer and fewer delegates and committee members still working.”

Despite this, Conway believes TCs are currently an “untapped potential.” “TCs must prove to unions why they should affiliate, demonstrating their impact.”

Conway also feels TCs should proactively liaise with young member groups in unions, as this supports the long-term health of the union movement and fosters TC innovation.

Another important issue Conway raised was the need for unions to confront the fact that many of their members voted for Reform, a party with extreme right-wing views and one that is openly opposed to the proposed Employment Rights Bill, which could improve the lives of millions of union members.

Conway explained how TCs have a vital role to play in rebuilding the public’s trust in politics — educating workers that Reform and the wider extreme right are not the answer to fixing societal problems, as well as co-ordinating collective activism between unions and other community groups with shared objectives. “Wolverhampton TC effectively manages anti-racism campaigning across the whole city. Other TCs could learn from this.”

Meet people where they are

Kevin Allsop, branch secretary of Bolton TUC and currently serving his third term on the JCC, attended the Trades Council Conference. Allsop echoed points raised by Conway, including the need for TCs to attract and develop younger delegates.

He explained that the recruitment of younger members was a key talking point at the conference. To support the development of young delegates, Allsop acts as a mentor, sharing his experiences. Equally, he benefits from mentoring, as it allows him to learn about growing issues in modern workplaces, such as misogyny.

Another main topic at the conference was the attack on disability benefits, including the Personal Independence Payment. Allsop spoke passionately about the need for TCs to proactively explain the impact of disability benefit cuts in communities through both a social and economic lens. “The removal of the £20 per week uplift to universal credit costs the Bolton economy £35 million per year,” he said.

Allsop believes TCs need to “meet people where they are,” including through the use of social media. He acknowledges that Reform and other right-wing groups have utilised social media more effectively than the trade union movement, and that TCs must use technology to engage communities and challenge unfounded narratives.

“The ideas being pitched by Reform and the extreme right have been around before and were discredited by trade unions. TCs must challenge these views once again — but using different methods.”

According to Allsop, supporting green campaigns — often led by dedicated grassroots groups — is an excellent way for TCs to encourage young people to join trade unions, demonstrate their relevance, and engage with local communities concerned about issues such as clean air and fracking.

Bolton TUC recently influenced Bolton Council to transfer green spaces to Fields in Trust, helping protect the environment for future generations. Collaborating with dedicated groups allows TCs to share skills developed over many years — skills that have contributed to successes like this.

As Hickman rightly pointed out: “Trades councils are uniquely placed to bring together a multitude of local groups.” The challenge for councils is to utilise this untapped potential to their advantage, clearly showcasing their impact and challenging the narrative — driven by media outlets and political parties — that there is more that divides us than connects us.

This approach will help TCs take the spotlight, be recognised for their achievements and support communities in re-engaging with local and wider politics that influence their everyday lives.