A POST Office executive has come under fire from a union boss after receiving an OBE.
Kevin Gilliland, Halstead resident and chief executive of the Post Office retail business, received the OBE as part of the New Year’s Honour list.
A row has now broken out over the decision, with a union saying he deserved a sacking, after ongoing industrial disputes over jobs, pensions and branch closures.
General secretary of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), Dave Ward, said in a message to the Government: “The Post Office director getting a New Year’s Honour whilst destroying jobs, pensions and closing post offices sums up why we need fundamental political change in this country. The only reward they deserve is the sacking.”
The CWU launched an online poll which attracted almost 3,000 votes, with 96 per cent saying the honour was a “disgrace”.
Mr Gilliland started his career as the counter clerk almost 38 years ago and has worked for the Post Office ever since.
He served as a regional cash manager, district office management accountant and customer services manager before spending his career in sales, marketing and account management roles.
In a statement online he said: “It is a privilege to serve the Post Office. It is a wonderful business and I am thrilled and deeply honoured to receive the OBE. It reflects for me the commitment and dedication of the many thousands of people who work tirelessly every day to improve post office services for customers – this honour is for them as much as it is for me.”
Union members have staged strikes in recent weeks over job cuts, the closure of a final salary pension scheme and the franchising of Crown Post Offices.