TRADE unionists in Wales have come together in Swansea to discuss how to confront the far right’s rise in Wales and stop Reform UK winning the 2026 Senedd election.

The TUC Cymru Rebuilding Unity conference on Tuesday was called to counter rising support for Reform in workplaces and fascist demonstrations in Wales.

Former National Education Union general secretary Kevin Courtney, speaking for Stand Up to Racism (STUR), called on trade unionists to vote for Plaid Cymru in the Caerphilly Senedd by-election on October 23.

“It might not be my place to say this, but trade unions need to encourage members to vote the best way to stop Reform UK,” Mr Courtney said.

TUC Cymru general secretary Shavanah Taj told delegates: “We’re seeing the rise of populist movements — voices offering discontent, promising change, speaking to frustrations.

“Given recent polling, it looks like Reform could do really well in Wales, so we need to be prepared and we need to understand how we can challenge some of the negative information they are peddling.”

Trade unionists discussed how they could hold difficult conversations in the workplace with members who say they support Reform, with TUC Cymru offering training sessions to help stewards.

Ms Taj said: “Disillusionment is real. In parts of our communities, people feel left behind and so they look for alternatives.

“There are those political parties that pray on this frustration and cultivate it and grow it until they breed hate.”

If nothing wis done, the narrative will be written by people who don’t share the labour movement’s values or understand the real struggles of ordinary people, the TUC Cymru leader said.

She added that unions must demand manifestos that put working people first, saying: “Let no political platform go unchallenged if it does not promise justice, fairness, opportunity.”

Ms Taj also exhorted unions to build alliances across communities against poverty and for racial justice, gender equality and environmental sustainability. 

“So, we have to take action, we must organise and we need to reach into every workplace, every community, every home,” she stressed.

“Our strength lies in our reach, in our solidarity, in our capacity to stand together, and we need to shape the political story to own what progressive change looks like here in Wales.”