STUC congress condemned the Scottish Executive's decision to proceed with privatising the essential lifeline ferry services operated on the Clyde and to the Western Isles by Caledonian MacBrayne.
RMT scottish secretary Phil McGarry said: "The maritime unions and the STUC are working tirelessly along with the island communities to halt the tendering process.
"There are clear alternatives to tendering the services, as shown in the report by economist Jeannette Findlay of Glasgow University," he noted.
"Let's send a clear message from this congress. CalMac is not for sale - lifeline public services must stay in public hands."
TSSA delegate Donald Frew reminded conference that Prime Minister Tony Blair had branded Conservative policy as "economic nonsense."
"If he wants to have a definition of economic nonsense, he need look no further than the proposal to put CalMac services out to tender," said Mr Frew.
"A full disclosure of costs would show tendering is unviable."
The resolution called on Scottish Transport Minister Nicol Stephen to fight Scotland's corner with greater "vigour and determination" in order to get the European commission to withdraw its threats to enforce the tendering process.
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