JTRAN bus services could be coming to a halt again after City warns of possible strike

The City of Jackson's bus system, JTRAN, may not be operating again.

In a Thursday afternoon press release, the City of Jackson warned of a possible strike by JTRAN workers on Friday, May 17.

"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 press release states.

The press release further reads that the city has an upcoming meeting with JTRAN drivers, scheduled for Wednesday, May 22.

"We hope that drivers will honor their commitment to the city’s ridership and forgo any adversarial actions until after the agreed-upon meeting," the press release states. "In the meantime, we ask that riders pay close attention to the JTRAN website and app. We will provide updates as soon as they are available."

The possible strike comes 12 days after JTRAN buses came to a halt on May 4 as employees purportedly called a “sick-out." Since then, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and the Jackson City Council have been trying to figure out what exactly employees are upset about.

JTRAN riders spoke during a May 7 meeting of the Jackson City Council, sharing how the "sick-out" and the stop in bus services made some wait at the bus stop for more than three hours. Other riders, such as Scott Crawford, a local activist for those with disabilities, said the experience has left him and other riders anxious about the future.

"I'm an activist, at heart and I'm very familiar with organized actions. This one makes no sense at all. It only harmed hundreds of vulnerable people who couldn't get to their jobs, medical appointments or other important obligations," Crawford said at the council meeting. "It's left the ridership scared."