It was a day over 20 years in the making.
When Jackson, MS Local 87 signed its new collective bargaining agreement this week, it ended a decades-long stretch without a contract and marked the beginning of a stronger, more collaborative relationship with the city.
“Today’s gathering is a testament to the commitment to always fight for fairness, respect, and open dialogue with our city leaders,” Local 87 President Mike Linzy said.
That new contract – and the cooperation behind it – reflects a major change at City Hall.
After years of strained relations with previous administrations, Local 87 backed state Senator John Horhn in this year’s mayoral race, supported by FIREPAC and the IAFF’s political program. With the endorsement of Jackson’s fire fighters, Horhn won and took office July 1, pledging to rebuild trust and invest in public safety.
A CONTRACT THAT STRENGTHENS SAFETY
The new CBA protects leave and scheduling, and formalizes Local 87’s role in workplace decision-making.
A contract lays the groundwork for fairness. That’s not too much to ask when you’re putting your life on the line.
General President Edward Kelly
“A contract lays the groundwork for fairness,” said General President Edward Kelly, who attended the ceremony. “That’s not too much to ask when you’re putting your life on the line.”
Jackson Fire Chief RaSean Thomas – who previously served as Local 87 president for eight years – has played an important role in recent efforts to strengthen the department. The Jackson City Council unanimously approved his appointment in September.
14th District Vice President Danny Todd and Chris “Blue” Bartley, Assistant to the General President for Governmental Affairs and Political Action, have supported the Local for years to advance crucial pay raises and the newly signed contract.
Local 87 leaders say the contract brings stability that will help keep trained fire fighters in Jackson.
“This contract provides security for the men and women serving this community,” Linzy said. “We thank the IAFF leadership for helping us get to the finish line.”
Todd commended the Local for its persistence.
“Local 87 embodied the spirit of the Fighting 14th,” he said. “They never stopped advocating for what our members needed, and their success shows the value of having a pro-union mayor in city hall.”
LOCAL WELCOMES NEW ENGINE AND RENOVATED STATION
The signing capped a larger celebration at Station 24, where the city also unveiled a brand-new, nearly $1 million engine and marked the completion of major renovations to the 46-year-old facility. Years of deferred maintenance and outdated apparatus had strained the department’s ability to meet the needs of the community – and the fire fighters who serve it.
Horhn, whose father was an IBEW leader in Mississippi and who has been a union member himself, spoke about the values that guide his approach.
“I grew up understanding the value of a union and collective bargaining – making sure workers’ rights are valued and protected,” Horhn said. “Jackson’s fire fighters are a group of honorable men and women, and we appreciate the fact that you’re putting your lives on the line every day.”
The best way to recognize that, he said, is to “get as many good pieces of equipment, [improved] facilities, and working conditions as we can.”
The agreement reflects the IAFF’s ongoing work to expand collective bargaining at the state and local levels. More than 7,000 members have gained a voice at work since the IAFF adapted its engagement strategy in 2023.
“This union works toward making sure our members get home safely at the end of a tour,” Kelly said. “That’s what a contract does: it allows us to negotiate with the city for safer working conditions, which, ultimately, means a safer city for the people that we all – elected officials and fire fighters – took an oath to protect.”
