Business Starts Petition to Reinstate FedEx Delivery Man

Owners of the East Hampton Business Service, a FedEx authorized ship center located in the village, started a petition on Monday morning to implore FedEx to reinstate delivery man Barry Gilliam.

Gilliam, an independent contractor for FedEx Ground for the past 11 years, said his contract was terminated last week after the company found him out of compliance with the way his business was filed as a corporation. He said he wasn't able to bring his corporation status into compliance in time for the imposed deadline.

Since then, Gilliam received a groundswell of support from East Hampton businesses and residents. Hundreds of his customers have written in on Patch, on Facebook, through Twitter and called FedEx directly demanding Gilliam be allowed to return to his route on East Hampton Village, Springs and Wainscott.

Mary Croghan, whose store, East Hampton Business Service, has been around since 1978, said Gilliam has been picking up from her store for 11 years. She said she hopes common sense prevails and Gilliam be allowed to return to his route. She plans to send it to the company president on Thursday.

She said Gilliam has an "intimate knowledge of everyone on the route."

"It's a level of service that I'm sure FedEx doesn't expect from the guys," she said, "But when you're on the receiving end of that type of attention or care — it's almost like a concierge service."

Croghan was among the many who took the time to appeal to the company on Gilliam's behalf. "I wrote to FedEx that he's an outstanding ambassador of the company," she said.

She said Scott Rubenstein took a copy of the petition to his business, East Hampton Indoor Tennis in Wainscott, for anyone there to sign. Other business owners have also begun asking for copies, as well.

Croghan called Gilliam a "very, very rare individual." She said, "His personal values manifest in his behavior." On the job, "he goes the extra mile and does all things with love," she said.

Croghan said she plans to send in the petition by Thursday morning. East Hampton Business Service, at 20 Park Place, is open every day between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., for those who would like to sign the petition.

Will you sign the petition? Tell us in the comments below.