TUC CONGRESS saluted the next generation of militant trade unionists today as it passed motion 72 on organising fast food workers.

BFAWU general secretary Ronnie Draper praised the courage of McDonald's staff who had taken strike action for the first time in the company's British history, saying they had wrung concessions from "probably the biggest exploiter of workers worldwide."

Strike action at two stores last December had won the biggest pay rise in McDonald's history, he noted, and the strikes had spread since.

He also highlighted forthcoming action at Wetherspoons, again for the first time in the company's history.

Highlighting Unite's fight for tips at TGI Friday's, he said unions were working together to "ensure the most underrepresented group in society have someone to turn to."

Unite's Asif Mohammed seconded the motion, which recognised "the role young people are playing in these successful actions."