Asylum seekers are given food vouchers
An emergency resolution will be put to next week's TUC conference, calling for the scrapping of the system of giving refugees vouchers to purchase food and other essential items.
The motion will be tabled by the leader of the Transport and General Workers Union, Bill Morris, who says the scheme is humiliating to people already under considerable stress and strain.
The union wants to persuade the TUC to ask the government to honour undertakings given last year to review the voucher scheme.
Mr Morris, who has led their campaign to persuade the government to return to giving asylum seekers cash payments, believes the voucher system is "inhuman".
He will be chairing the week-long Brighton conference in his position as this year's TUC president.
Mr Morris will ask the 750 delegates to wear badges stating: "Respect for asylum seekers".
The Home Office has said that a decision on the voucher system will be made very shortly.
But there are indications that some ministers and officials believe any move to re-instate cash payments could encourage more asylum seekers to enter Britain.
They also point out that the government has long-term contracts with retail groups to accept vouchers.