Holding the Line, Twice: How Jackson’s Transit Workers Won Again
For 39 days this summer, JTRAN workers walked picket lines outside the buses they used to drive, while MV Transportation kept those same buses running with scab operators.
JTRAN workers, members of ATU Local 1208, walked off the job on July 13 after months of what they described as bad-faith bargaining by contractor MV Transportation. Their contract expired back on December 31, 2025, and in the months since, MV kept pushing rather than negotiating by unlawfully monitoring employees, unilaterally rewriting work rules, and piling on a pattern of Unfair Labor Practices. By early June, members had enough. They voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike.
A Company That Wouldn’t Budge
When the walkout began, MV brought in scab bus operators rather than come back to the table in good faith.
“MV tried to divide us. They brought in scab bus operators and refused to address our concerns,” said Local 1208 President/Business Agent Charles Tornes, Jr. “This strike shows that our members are willing to lay it all on the line for justice.”
International Support on the Line
The Local didn’t stand alone. On day one of the strike, ATU International President John Costa flew to Jackson and walked the picket lines with the strikers, adding national pressure to a local fight.
“On the picket lines, I saw firsthand their strength, unity, and solidarity,” Costa said. “They’re frontline heroes
and can now get back to the job of keeping Jackson moving safely and reliably. It was an honor to hold the line with you.”
A Contract Worth the Fight
After weeks on the line and eventual mediation, Local 1208 secured a tentative agreement that met the Local’s core demands on pay, working conditions, and benefits. Members ratified the deal, officially ending the strike.
What makes this win especially striking is that it’s not the first. This was the second walkout by JTRAN workers in under two years. In September 2024, they staged a 14-day strike that also ended in a strong contract.
Two strikes, two victories, and a message that’s become hard to ignore: JTRAN workers aren’t backing down, and neither is the ATU standing behind them. As Tornes put it, they’re willing to “lay it all on the line for justice,” and twice now that’s exactly what it’s taken.