RMT has tabled a call for a rule change which would give the annual conference of trades councils the right to submit a motion to Congress from 2009, in line with rights already enjoyed by the TUC's equality conferences.

The union's motion (87) also points out that trades councils in Wales and Scotland already have the right to submit motions to their respective national congresses.

"This is a small step, but one which will benefit the entire trade union movement," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

"Trades councils are our movement's community voice and they play a vital role in focusing trade-union energy on local issues affecting working people and their families and helping to build union strength.

"It makes sense for them to have a voice at Congress and all we are asking is that the trades councils' conference is allowed to submit a motion to Congress in the same way that the TUC's equalities conferences already can," Bob Crow said.