Nigel Farage faces a “difficult” relationship with the trade union movement if Reform UK takes power, TUC chief Paul Nowak has told GB News.
Mr Nowak, who took over as TUC general secretary in 2022, told GB News it would be challenging for the organisation to work with a Reform UK Government.
Speaking to GB News ahead of the TUC’s annual conference in Birmingham, Mr Nowak stressed trade unions would need to engage with whichever party wins the keys to power.
“I think it would be really difficult,” the TUC’s general secretary told GB News.
“But our job is to work with whoever is in Government. And we’ve got a practical test of this now, haven’t we?”
Mr Nowak pointed out that trade unions already have a relationship with Reform UK at a local level.
He added: “Reform do run 22 local councils up and down the country and they employ tens of thousands of workers.
“Unions in those local authorities will definitely be meeting with Reform councillors.
“That’s what they’ve got to do. They’ve got to represent their members, but we’ve still got to call them out when we think they’re getting it wrong.”
The tensions between Reform UK and the trade union movement are already being played out in councils controlled by the party.
Reform took control of 10 English councils at the 2025 local elections, bringing the party into direct negotiations with unions representing council staff.
Unison reported a surge in membership in Reform-run authorities as workers voiced concerns over jobs, services and proposed changes.
Mr Farage sparked controversy in Lancashire and Durham after suggesting workers involved in diversity and inclusion should consider alternative careers.
Unions responded by warning Reform UK councillors that members of staff had legal protections and pledged to challenge policies they believed threatened jobs or services.
However, Reform UK hailed polling showing trade union members had been moving away from the Labour Party.
Speaking to GB News, Reform UK’s business spokesman Richard Tice said: “We look forward to negotiating with and working with unions.
“In fairness, he accepts and understands that we are already working together on councils.
“We’re running 33 councils, and there are, of course, discussions.”
Mr Tice added: “What he [Mr Nowak] forgot to mention was that many of his union members are voting Reform.
“In fact, I’ve been contacted by very senior union representatives saying, ‘We need to talk to you because our members are voting Reform.”
The Boston & Skegness MP, who expressed an interest in addressing delegates at the TUC conference in Brighton, has not been invited to deliver a speech.
Leading trade union figures have been particularly critical of Reform UK.
Mr Nowak previously described Mr Farage as a “Putin apologist fraud”, adding: “Reform are no friends of working people.”
Meanwhile, Unison officials have repeatedly described Reform UK as a “far right party”.