Jackson firefighters are demanding a livable wage. It’s an ongoing battle that comes down to citywide support and if the city of Jackson has the money to up their pay.Dozens of firefighters packed city hall Tuesday to demand a pay raise as the Jackson City Council prepares for the new budget season. Firefighter union president Resean Thomas said Jackson firefighters go above and beyond helping the community. From passing out water bottles during the city’s water crisis, picking up garbage during the garbage crisis, and of course, putting out fires that plague the city almost every other day.“These firefighters work day in and day out to protect this city, and they always get passed over, overlooked, and it’s time to stop kicking the can down the road and take care of these firefighters,” Thomas said. Their pay increase bout was brought to the attention of several councilmembers, many of them grouping together to support the Jackson Fire Department.“Please know we are grateful that you’re here before us today, and we are going to take your request very seriously,” said Ward 7 Councilwoman Virgi Lindsay. “We know y’all are from the community. We know you love this city, and we are going to show y’all some love back,” said Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes.But Fire Chief Willie Owens said it may not be in the city’s budget to approve such a big increase.“I thought that they did a great job today as far as speaking out about what kind of raise they needed,” Owens said. “They have come up with a solution on how they are going to get the raise because the city does not have the funding to just give a big raise like that.”Right now, retaining officers within JFD has become an issue. They say it’s because the wage doesn’t compete with other departments across the state. For example, a firefighter in Jackson makes roughly $11 an hour, totaling around $32,000 annually. In Ridgeland, the salary base for a starting firefighter starts at $13.90 an hour, totaling around $40,600 annually.Firefighters are asking the city council to take a look at pay scales around the state and have proposed new salaries that would place firefighters and relief driver operators at $45,000 to $47,000. Lieutenants at $55,000 to $57,000, captains to $65,000 to $67,000, and district fire chiefs to $70,000. As the city begins budget discussions in the next week, firefighters hope they are at the top of the priority list.
Jackson firefighters are demanding a livable wage. It’s an ongoing battle that comes down to citywide support and if the city of Jackson has the money to up their pay.
Dozens of firefighters packed city hall Tuesday to demand a pay raise as the Jackson City Council prepares for the new budget season.
Firefighter union president Resean Thomas said Jackson firefighters go above and beyond helping the community. From passing out water bottles during the city’s water crisis, picking up garbage during the garbage crisis, and of course, putting out fires that plague the city almost every other day.
“These firefighters work day in and day out to protect this city, and they always get passed over, overlooked, and it’s time to stop kicking the can down the road and take care of these firefighters,” Thomas said.
Their pay increase bout was brought to the attention of several councilmembers, many of them grouping together to support the Jackson Fire Department.
“Please know we are grateful that you’re here before us today, and we are going to take your request very seriously,” said Ward 7 Councilwoman Virgi Lindsay.
“We know y’all are from the community. We know you love this city, and we are going to show y’all some love back,” said Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes.
But Fire Chief Willie Owens said it may not be in the city’s budget to approve such a big increase.
“I thought that they did a great job today as far as speaking out about what kind of raise they needed,” Owens said. “They have come up with a solution on how they are going to get the raise because the city does not have the funding to just give a big raise like that.”
Right now, retaining officers within JFD has become an issue. They say it’s because the wage doesn’t compete with other departments across the state. For example, a firefighter in Jackson makes roughly $11 an hour, totaling around $32,000 annually. In Ridgeland, the salary base for a starting firefighter starts at $13.90 an hour, totaling around $40,600 annually.
Firefighters are asking the city council to take a look at pay scales around the state and have proposed new salaries that would place firefighters and relief driver operators at $45,000 to $47,000. Lieutenants at $55,000 to $57,000, captains to $65,000 to $67,000, and district fire chiefs to $70,000.
As the city begins budget discussions in the next week, firefighters hope they are at the top of the priority list.
