City of Jackson warns residents JTRAN drivers may strike, but so far all buses are running

Charlie Drape, Mississippi Clarion Ledger
·2 min read

JTRAN buses are fully operational as of 10 a.m. Friday.

"As of 4:30 a.m. today, there are no service delays," the JTRAN website states, but is also asking riders to check back for updates.

Melissa Payne, the City of Jackson's spokesperson, told the Clarion Ledger a press release would be sent out if bus services stopped, but all buses and routes are running so far.

The news comes as residents and JTRAN bus riders woke up unsure if the City of Jackson's bus system would be running, due to the city sending out a press release Thursday afternoon warning residents that JTRAN bus drivers may possibly go on a strike.

A JTRAN bus leaves Union Station in Jackson on Friday, May 17, 2024. Although there was a JTRAN strike threat, buses were on the road Friday morning. The JTRAN website reported no delays.
A JTRAN bus leaves Union Station in Jackson on Friday, May 17, 2024. Although there was a JTRAN strike threat, buses were on the road Friday morning. The JTRAN website reported no delays.

"City officials were informed today that JTRAN workers were possibly planning to go on strike tomorrow, Friday, May 17 — once again leaving innocent riders stranded. We are notifying riders NOW of this possibility so that they can make alternate transportation plans if this happens," the Thursday press release states.

The press release further stated the city has scheduled an upcoming meeting with JTRAN drivers on Wednesday, May 22. The city asked JTRAN workers to "honor their commitment to the city’s ridership and forgo any adversarial actions until after the agreed-upon meeting."

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A JATRAN vehicle moves west on Capitol Street in Jackson on Friday, May 17, 2024. Although there was a JTRAN strike threat, buses were on the road Friday morning. The JTRAN website reported no delays.
A JATRAN vehicle moves west on Capitol Street in Jackson on Friday, May 17, 2024. Although there was a JTRAN strike threat, buses were on the road Friday morning. The JTRAN website reported no delays.

On May 4, JTRAN workers staged a "sick-out" and the city's bus system stopped operating, leaving riders and residents — some disabled — stranded at bus stops for over three hours.

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba held a press conference the following Monday, May 6, where he expressed confusion over exactly why the "sick-out" happened. The Jackson City Council also expressed concern at their Tuesday, May 7 meeting.

JTRAN is managed by a third-party company for the city, called MV Transportation. At the recent city council meeting, Terry Thompson, the vice president for customer success for MV Transportation, shared a statement with council members. Thompson said the company was unaware of the mass call-outs and are in talks with the union. The company also shared that the union is in violation of the collective bargaining agreement.

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Today's issues come two months after the city held a press conference celebrating the return of JTRAN. Lumumba and Christine Welch, the city's deputy director of transportation, held a press conference and ribbon cutting ceremony at Union Station on March 4.

JTRAN was relaunched with a brand new website, improved bus shelters, onboard announcements for upcoming stops and a JTRAN app to download on your phone that provides riders with real-time schedule information. In total, the city received $14 million in grants to buy new buses and leftover money will be used to purchase more buses if anything goes wrong.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: JTRAN services running in Jackson MS after workers threaten strike