What are Kelly Days? Kelly day is a PAID day off taken at a scheduled interval in addition to normal time off or vacation. Also Kelly shift.
Etymological Note: It has been claimed as early as 1953 that this term comes from Edward Joseph Kelly, mayor of Chicago from 1933 to 1947. He is said to have put in place a similar plan for firefighters in 1936. An article on the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois web site includes a footnote for an article that may include more information about the origin of the term: “Action of City Council in Chicago Secures New Working Schedule for Fire Fighters,” International Fire Fighter, Washington, D.C., Vol. XIX, No. 6, June 1936, pp. 5-6. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Every taxpayer should know that the Lehigh Acres firefighters get Kelly Day’s but not all fire districts in Lee county use or pay out Kelly days.
According to Chef Wayne if the firefighters would gave up their Kelly days during negotiations – the department would put fire truck at station 105 back on the road for the safety of Lehigh Acres and firefighters would receive overtime pay vs Kelly days which OT would be a cost savings to the district.
Must of the firefighters have two and three jobs because they current have Kelly days …. 70% of the employees of the district don’t even live in the 143 square miles of the Lehigh Acres Fire District.
Will the Lehigh Acres firefighters do the right thing and give up the Kelly days to help the taxpayers in Lehigh Acres?