FOOD workers’ commitment to standing up for working people proves that fighting trade unions still exist, the bakers’ union’s annual conference heard today.

Ex-miner and veteran labour movement campaigner John Dunn praised members for “holding the labour movement together” during tough times as he opened the BFAWU’s five-day meet-up in Staffordshire.

The Orgreave Truth & Justice Campaign activist also hailed the union, which represents about 15,000 food workers in production, retail and delivery, for overwhelmingly voting to disaffiliate from the Labour Party “shit show.”

The decision, which came in 2021 after the BFAWU accused Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s increasingly right-wing party of abandoning working-class people, was reaffirmed by a new vote today.

Addressing delegates at the Yarnfield Park conference centre in Stone, Mr Dunn said: “You have been holding this movement together.

“You’re the heroes: you’ve fought against rapacious employers; you’ve fought to earn decent living standards for your members; and you know what? You’re winning, so thank you.”

This year’s conference is the 105th in the history of the union, which was founded in Manchester in 1847.