Post Office workers brand OBE for chief executive 'a disgrace'
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Version 0 of 1. A row has broken out over a New Year honour given to a Post Office executive while the organisation is involved in an industrial dispute over jobs, pensions and branch closures. Kevin Gilliland, the chief executive of the retail business, was awarded an OBE. He started as a counter clerk almost 38 years ago and has worked for the Post Office ever since. The Communication Workers Union launched an online poll that attracted almost 3,000 votes. Ninety-six per cent agreed the honour was “a disgrace”. 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. Dave Ward, the CWU general secretary said in an online message: “Post Office director getting new year 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 sack.” |