Split vote 4-1 results in four vacation days gained and one lost
Escambia County (Ala.) employees will gain four vacation days and lose one following a 4-1 split vote to approve the holiday schedule to be more in line with the holiday schedule of the state, which also has offices inside the courthouse. The new holiday schedule is in place for Oct. 1, 2019 through Sept. 30, 2020.
The new holidays approved for the employees include Columbus Day on Monday, Oct. 14, 2019; George Washington/Thomas Jefferson's birthdays on Monday, Feb. 17, 2020; Confederate Memorial Day on Monday, April 27,2020; and Jefferson Davis' birthday on Monday, June 1, 2020.
The new schedule took away Good Friday. Other holidays for county employees include Veterans Day on Monday, Nov. 11, 2019; Thanksgiving on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 28 and 29, 2019; Christmas on Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 24 and 25, 2019 ; New Year's on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., birthday on Monday, Jan. 20, 2020; Memorial Day on Monday, May 25, 2020; Independence Day on Friday, July 3, 2020; and Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 7, 2020.
Commissioner David Stokes cast the lone 'no' vote against the holiday schedule saying he felt the 11 holidays the county employees received was very generous. The new schedule has 14 holidays.
“I'm voting no,” Stokes said before the vote came up.
Stokes said he checked with several banks and they get 9 or 10 days and the post office has nine holidays.
