Brighton's Bin Mafia: How secret war by 'insurgent' waste collectors have seen death threats, tyres slashed and cache of weapons uncovered
A row has been ongoing for at least 18 months at a council-run waste disposal site, with Brighton and Hove Council bosses accusing the GMB union of protecting 'insurgent' employees who create a 'toxic' environment.
A group of workers have been accused of using 'bully boy tactics' in a falling out which has left residents with up to eight weeks worth of rubbish left outside their homes.
Amid the terrifying militancy developing in the town, waste disposal vehicles are said to have been repeatedly sabotaged with wires cut and even being set on fire, with perpetrators leaving chilling threats behind.
One employee received a death threat as recently as January - more than a year after an initial report found instances of bullying, intimidation, racism, sexism and homophobia across Hollingdean bin depot in November 2023.
Someone even slashed the tyres of a waste-depot manager, before leaving a message in block capitals on the vehicle stating: 'Leave the case alone. Brakes next. Nice dogs by the way.'
Staff members have been left with PTSD and have been victim to 'ongoing intimidatory acts both in the workplace and at managers' homes', a report published this month revealed.
It comes after new figures revealed missed bin collections increased by 140 percent from 573 to 1,369 between December and April, despite a council tax increase of 4.99 percent for this year.
This means the average Band D home is now being charged £2,455 - £200 more than in 2024.
Allegations of a 'toxic' workplace at Hollingdean first emerged after a cache of deadly weapons was found inside an office at the site in 2023, including knives, nunchucks, baseball bats and a samurai sword.
A three-month investigation ordered by the council and carried out by Aileen McColgan KC found instances of bullying, intimidation, racism, sexism and homophobia across the site.
Summarising her key findings, Ms McColgan said she interviewed 70 witnesses who described a group of around ten 'white men' who were 'particularly protected by the GMB reps within the Council'.
She found that individuals described managers as 'c***s', 'w*****s' and 'a f***ing b**** pulling the strings' and sexually harassed female employees.
She also stated that incidents of racial harassment against colleagues included racist name calling and graffiti left around the depot, and homophobic abuse that included catfishing gay employees on dating app Grindr.
One gay employee told the investigation that he was constantly the subject of homophobic 'banter' and that a lot of staff on the site refused to work with him due to his sexuality.
Interviewees described the work atmosphere as akin to George Orwell's Animal Farm and working in fear of physical violence.
Ms McColgan found that by 2017, 'bullying behaviours had become normalised' at the site, including by GMB reps, and that 'GMB reps with the Council have failed to cooperate'.
Commenting on the alleged behaviour of one GMB rep at the site, she listed a string of incidents including threatening to stab workers, bringing weapons to work and showing them to staff, and other threats of violence.
They were also said to have asked potential employees if they would 'grass up racists' and sexually harassed women, including by stating: 'Who would wanna f*** that?'
GMB responded to the report at the time by criticising it for not having spoken to those accused of misconduct and lacking the 'basic test of fairness'.
Since the report was published, more than 40 staff have left Hollingdean but a recent spike in missed deliveries has left locals concerned.
Recently vehicles have been sabotaged and a - now deleted - post by the GMB Brighton Sussex branch in February last year threatened to bring 'chaos' to the streets of Brighton. GMB said it was investigating the post.
On February 9 2024, a bin collection vehicle was set on fire in what is believed to have been a deliberate act of sabotage.
At the time, a council spokesperson said: 'Along with the two vehicles with cut wires, we've experienced an unprecedented and unexplained number of reported vehicle defects – which we suspect may be intentionally caused.
'We do have some spare vehicles, but not enough to maintain a full service in the face of the deliberate sabotage the service is experiencing.'
And residents are once again left frustrated after repeated missed collections which have left the streets strewn with litter and waste.
Mark Earthey, an independent councillor for Rottingdean and West Saltdean, told the Telegraph that roads in his ward were sometimes missed for eight weeks at a time.
'I have residents who are partially sighted, or have mobility issues. They've been falling over rubbish and uncollected bins,' he said.
'People can't even get in and out of their own homes because of bins in the road or pathways. It's been total meltdown.'
In a statement on Twitter, GMB Sussex said it had 'ready with interest' recent media reports and 'condemns any action that would harm the health and safety of our members and to the public'.
Gavin Davies, GMB Regional Secretary told MailOnline: 'Comments coming from Brighton & Hove City Council are extremely disappointing and very poorly timed.
'It's GMB's view that council leaders are seeking to blame a 2 year old report for failures in service rollout, which have worsened since the report, not improved, and the blame for which needs to lie with the council leadership.
'That being said, GMB continues to try to forge a positive working relationship with the council against the backdrop of multiple problems, not least the millions owed to women employees who have been systematically underpaid over many years.
'It's frustrating our attempts to work with the council on issues such as equal pay keep falling on deaf ears.'
In a police update issued last week, a spokesperson for Sussex Police confirmed reported offences from 2023 to 2025 include criminal damage, possession of offensive weapons, harassment, arson, and further serious offences.
They added that all the incidents reported to Sussex Police remain under continual review and are forming part of a wider investigation that remains ongoing.
Chief Superintendent Rachel Carr, divisional commander for Brighton and Hove, said: 'The matters that have been reported to us are of a very serious and concerning nature.
'We have ensured appropriate resource is in place to conduct thorough investigations into all reported incidents and would urge any witnesses or anyone with information relating to these matters to come forward.
'A previous statement issued by the force on this matter inaccurately implied that all investigations had concluded and we apologise for this and any distress caused.'
Due to operational reasons, specific details on some investigations are limited at this time. Further updates will be published when appropriate.
Anyone with information relating to the investigation is asked to report online or by calling 101 quoting Operation Senate.
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