Boston Fire union chief could face toughest fight today

The Boston Globe reports:

Edward A. Kelly proved his mettle long ago as a fighter, an in-your-face, with-me-or-against-me warrior who is Dorchester to the core.

And fight Kelly has since 2005, when, at 31, he became one of the youngest union presidents in the history of the Boston Fire Department. Fighting a series of scandals, from bogus disability claims to drug and alcohol use. Fighting perceived smears in the media. Fighting the reelection of Mayor Thomas M. Menino. Fighting, for better or worse, for respect for his firefighters.

This afternoon, when he goes before the City Council, Kelly faces what may be his most difficult battle. He is pushing for approval of an arbitration award that grants firefighters five raises over the past four years, a period that saw the biggest economic collapse since the Great Depression. Mounting opposition has put passage of the contract in serious jeopardy. Kelly is being pressured to ease up and compromise.

Great moments in government.