Birmingham's Lord Mayor ceremony interrupted by bin strike protesters
A prestigious ceremony to mark the election of Birmingham’s new Lord Mayor took a dramatic turn when protesters interrupted the event from the public gallery.
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Mayor Zafar Iqbal, who serves as a councillor for the Tyseley and Hay Mills ward, took up the politically-neutral role at the lively meeting on Tuesday afternoon (May 20).
The roles of the Lord Mayor include representing the Birmingham community at formal ceremonies and on both joyous and tragic occasions; supporting charities; welcoming dignitaries and chairing council meetings.
But the grand ceremony was overshadowed at moments when those supporting striking bin workers began to shout from the public gallery.
The Birmingham bin strike dispute was triggered by the city council’s plans to scrap a Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) role, which Unite said would force “dedicated workers onto pay levels barely above the minimum wage”.
But the council has insisted in the past that a “fair and reasonable offer” has been made, with council leader John Cotton adding it “cannot and will not entertain anything that would re-open an equal pay liability”.
The tense situation continues to rumble on, with one woman angrily shouting during the meeting: “Could you take an £8,000 pay cut?”
Another protester also yelled about workers "losing their livelihoods, losing their homes" before whistles blared in the council chamber room.
“Sit down or be removed,” departing Lord Mayor Ken Wood shouted in response, before he requested that the gallery be cleared.
As Councillor Zafar Iqbal was being named Lord Mayor, a shout of “shame on you John Cotton” could then be heard, prompting councillors to clap over the interruption.
On Tuesday afternoon, Unite the union shared a picture of strikers and supporters outside the council house with a banner calling on Councillor Cotton to ‘end the bin strike’.
Addressing those attending the prestigious event later on, Mayor Iqbal appeared unfazed and spoke positively about Birmingham.
“While I was not born here, it has been home to me and my family for over 50 years,” he said. “It is the most amazing place in the world, attracting people like me from every corner of the globe and turning them into Brummies.
“Brummies have played a vital role in shaping not only our city but also the world."
He continued that he planned to celebrate Birmingham in every neighbourhood and help inspire the next generation of the city’s leaders over the next year.
