r/Firefighting • u/946stockton • 2d ago

General Discussion Mississippi Firefighters- 35 Years and no COLA

https://www.wlox.com/2025/08/27/mississippi-fire-departments-questioning-long-term-impact-recent-changes-pers/?outputType=amp

A new Mississippi law is making all new people hired on for police/fire to put in 35 years of service before they are eligible for their retirement, and no cost of living adjustment.

When a state senator was asked about how it’ll affect recruiting “They can do something else.”

Their state usually ranks at the bottom of rankings, so residents of other states near the bottom can still say, "Thank God for Mississippi.”

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u/Iamdickburns ACFD 2d ago

You'll just wind up with more guys on medical retirements. I got hired at 30, aint now way I could do this job at 65.

8

u/JohnnyUtah43 1d ago

Got hired at 32. Need 32 years for full pension. Bright side is I'm in a state with 4 groups, not 3, and run the 1-1-1-5 schedule

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u/an_angry_Moose Career FF 12h ago

Best schedule in the game imo. Gives you three possible days for OT, and tons of time off whenever you need it.

6

u/trapper2530 2d ago

Were forced out at 63. Can go at 55. I always say I'll see where im at financially and physically at 55. Engineer maybe I'll stay a couple more. Chief maybe I'll stay. Still crawling hallways ans throwing ladders and body is starting to go. Might be time to go.

4

u/wimpymist 1d ago

My current pension is 57 I can't imagine going to 57. Luckily I work in a state where I will be able retire at 50 then get an easier job to ride out until 57

3

u/Yurple_RS 1d ago edited 1d ago

Which will suck the pensions dry even faster. Their so-called "solution" to pensions running dry shouldn't be requiring people to work longer, especially in such a dangerous and physically demanding profession.

There's a ton of other things they could do like put an age cap on applicants, extend retirement cap for non-field qualified personnel, reduce the number of volunteer positions in favor of paid positions that would add more money to the pension, or even require cities to pay into the pension for every position filled by volunteers.

I'm sorry, but Republicans (especially MAGA), historically speaking, are wayyy out of touch with laborers. There's a reason they are known for busting unions up and pushing states into "right to work".