Retail union Usdaw has recruited St. Michael - the patron saint of grocers - to talk to thousands of Marks & Spencer workers attending American-style motivational sessions in Birmingham.
Armed with Usdaw's specially commissioned shield of truth and sword of justice, St. Michael rode into Birmingham's NEC to meet staff from across the UK attending motivational sessions costing an estimated £10 million.
The stunt was part of a campaign by Usdaw to try and secure union recognition at the ailing high street giant.
Usdaw said M& S had refused to recognise the union despite thousands of staff joining up and the failure of its own consultation processes.
"St. Michael was the face of Marks and Spencer before they hit their recent troubles so we thought he would be perfect to talk to staff," said Usdaw general secretary John Hannett.
"It may be a fun way to reach staff, but there is a very serious message behind this that M&S workers need an independent voice within the company.
"The internal consultation forums in M&S have no credibility and staff at stores all across the country are joining up in droves because they know our experience in retail will help them protect terms and conditions which are constantly being eroded.
"M&S are refusing to even talk to us so we've had to send a saint in to get a voice, but we want to work with the company to help them address their continuing decline in much the same way we work with some of their high street rivals to successfully build their businesses."
Usdaw have also hired ad vans to circulate the NEC complex with a message urging delegates to click on to their newly created web site.
Mr Hannett said: "Usdaw isn't going away but we wanted to reach out to workers who may not have heard our message.
"The reality is that M&S staff say they have no voice as the company drifts."
A spokeswoman for M&S said: "We don't recognise trade unions, but we are not anti trade union and our people are free to join any trade union they wish.
"We have very positive employee relations, which we are very proud of and we want to continue this situation where people see the need to join a union."
