Political Tensions Erupt as Bin Workers' Union Denies Targeting School Linked to Council Leader's Family

In an escalating conflict between Birmingham City Council and the Unite union representing striking bin workers, Council leader John Cotton has accused the union of targeting the school attended by the children of cabinet member Majid Mahmood. This claim sparked controversy as Cotton called for an apology from the union. He asserted that while holding elected officials accountable is essential, targeting their families is unacceptable.

The union, however, strongly refutes this accusation, stating that their visit to the school was purely to gather support signatures from parents and that they were unaware of any connection to the councillor’s children, labeling it a coincidence. Cotton, who identifies as a member of a trade union himself, expressed concern over the behavior and said it was not representative of most rank-and-file union members.

Further legal correspondence from Unite clarifies that they had engaged with four schools in the week preceding the incident, emphasizing that their activities were legitimate campaigning efforts. They described the interactions as welcoming and positive, defending their approach and denying any intention to target families of council members. The accusation adds to the tensions surrounding Birmingham’s 15-week bin strike, which has faced various challenges, including picket lines obstructing waste collections. Unite has maintained that their strike actions have been lawful and peaceful, striving to engage with the community effectively. Conciliatory talks between the union and the council have not yet yielded a resolution, with both parties entrenched in their positions.