A HUGE public campaign has been launched in support of Bewdley’s “bandana bin man” amidst claims he was forced out of his job due to his headwear.

Agency worker Sean Macnamara said he had been collecting refuse from Bewdley’s Severn Side area for Wyre Forest District Council for three months, until he was told he would have to work shifts that he had already made clear he could not fulfil.

But the 52-year-old from Kidderminster claimed the change only happened when he refused to remove his signature bandana after receiving a letter reminding him of the authority’s uniform requirements.

And he added his final shift on Sunday (August 5) was cut short by bosses after they spotted a photo of him on Facebook, holding unopened beer cans that had been given to him by a resident as a leaving present.

Furious residents have been writing to the council in their hundreds demanding he be reinstated and branding his treatment as “disgraceful”.

Council bosses insist the bandana was not the reason for him no longer working for them and stressed he left because he was unable to fulfil their shift requirements.

Mr Macnamara said: “I had been doing the early morning shifts on Mondays to Wednesday while working 1-9pm on Saturdays and Sundays for three months. I made it clear from the start I could not work the late shifts in the week.

“But the problems started when I received a letter on July 24 saying it had come to their attention that bandanas were being worn.

“I didn’t stop wearing it and then suddenly, with no discussion or consultation, I was told I would have to do the late shifts during the week.

“I believe these were bully boy tactics to get me to comply but I wasn’t going to so I reluctantly left voluntarily. I was happy to finish my last late shift but they spotted the photo of me holding two packs of unopened beers given to me as a gift. I was called back to the yard early and told to go.”

Mr Macnamara said he now faces a desperate search for a new job but added he was touched by the campaign to get his job back.

He said: “I felt I did a good job and I enjoyed doing something for the community. I was known as “Bandana Binman”.

“I am overwhelmed by all the support people have given me and I want to thank everyone who stood up for me.”

Linda Draycott, the council’s Director of Community, Wellbeing and Environment, said: “We have not terminated Sean’s employment, he was not employed by us – he was an agency worker and his assignment with the council has now ended.

“It is unfortunate that the change in rota was not acceptable to Sean but, as is generally the case with any casual staff or agency workers, they are required to fill in any manpower gaps to support the service which can be changeable, often at short notice.

“All workers, whether permanent or agency, are required to meet the uniform requirements of the council which can often be in place for protective reasons.

“In July we issued supervisors with a reminder about the dress code that all people working for the council both directly employed and all agency workers have to follow when they join us.”