Jackson Firefighters Still Pushing for Pay Raises

For a second year in a row, firefighters in Jackson, Mississippi are lobbying city officials for a substantial pay increase in an effort to bring firefighter pay in-line with neighboring communities. According to WAPT News the fire chief has budgeted a $10,000 across the board increase in next year’s budget, however union officials claim more is needed. As a result, the union has brought their appeal for a $12,500 across the board increase directly to the city council for consideration.

If this sounds familiar, that is because Jackson firefighters requested a similar increase a year ago, when the department’s current budget was under city review. The city provided pay raises to the firefighters, however according to union officials, the increases still left the city lagging behind neighboring departments by an average of $10,000 per year. Union officials also note that last year’s raises were the first raises received by firefighters in over twenty years.

Here is more on the story from WAPT News and more from FirefighterOvertime from last August.