They were inspired by the London tailors' strike, but feared that it would result in a ban on trade unions.
In its early years, it focused on campaigning for a nine-hour maximum working day, and on providing support for unions which were in dispute.
James Bartley, William Henry Drew and Joseph Hayhurst founded the Bradford Labour Union in 1891.
The council also sponsored Ben Tillett's unsuccessful candidacy in Bradford West in the 1892 UK general election.
This was rejected, and the council continued on a radical course, supporting the Hands Off Russia campaign, and organising the 1926 UK general strike in the city.