Honoring Our Transit Members

March 18 is National Transit Employee Appreciation Day, a day dedicated to the hardworking men and women who drive operate, and maintain public transit systems across the United States. This day honors the transit employees who keep our communities moving and serve as the most visible representatives of our union in cities and towns nationwide. 

How Did National Transit Employee Appreciation Day Begin?

March 18 was chosen to honor the history of public transportation, because it marks the day in 1662 when public buses were first introduced in Paris, France. The modern era of public transit was born, ushering in a tradition of service and connectivity that has shaped cities and societies ever since.

In 2009, the day was first observed as National Bus Driver Appreciation Day in the United States. Five years later, the day was expanded to honor all transit employees, including those in passenger and commuter rail, becoming National Transit Employee Appreciation Day. 

Honoring Service to the Transportation Industry and One Another

Our bus and rail workers face countless challenges in their daily shifts, from the pressures of tight schedules to the ongoing threat of violence in the workplace. Despite these difficulties, they continue to serve the public with professionalism, pride, and resilience.

We thank our Bus Operators, conductors, maintenance employees, and rail workers for their service to the transportation industry. But we also thank them for their exceptional service to one another through the strength of our union. Through collective advocacy and action, our voices are heard at every level. From local management to statehouses and Capitol Hill, the work our transit brothers and sisters perform shows why SMART-TD is the gold standard for representing transportation workers.

Leadership and Advocacy Set the Stage for a Stronger Future 

In recent years, SMART-TD’s Bus Department has continued to build momentum. Our transit professionals have secured stronger protections, elevated their voices, and pushed forward meaningful quality of life and safety improvements in their workplaces.

One such initiative, the Bus Transit Assault Prevention and Safety (BTAPS) Committee, has worked tirelessly to advance safety, security, and respect for transit professionals.

SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson praised the role transit members play both on the job and in representing the union: 

“Our transit members are the face of SMART-TD in communities across the country, and I couldn’t be more proud of the way they represent our union every day. Their professionalism and dedication do not go unnoticed. We remain committed, alongside our Bus Department, Amtrak and commuter rail General Committees, and BTAPS, to fighting for the safety, wages, job security, and respect our sisters and brothers have earned through their vital role in our communities and in the American labor movement.” 

Santa Monica Big Blue Bus Operators Get a Shout-Out

Some of our SMART-TD brothers and sisters were featured in a short video celebrating Transit Worker Appreciation Day and highlighting what Big Blue Bus Operators do during each shift. Sister Markeisha Haynes and Brothers Enrique Guadian and Eddie Rodriguez walked Santa Monica Mayor Caroline Torosis through the many steps they take every day to ensure that passengers and their vehicles are safe while providing a vital service to the community.  

We applaud Mayor Torosis for her support of public transportation and are proud of Sister Haynes and Brothers Guadian and Rodriguez for representing our union! 

Watch the video on Facebook ►

More Than Just a Day of Recognition 

While National Transit Employee Appreciation Day is an important opportunity to reflect, our appreciation does not stop here.

This union celebrates our transit brothers and sisters every day. We recognize the work done, the challenges faced, and the professionalism displayed on the job. We are proud to stand beside you both in the workplace and in the cause.

Thank you for all that you do. Your contributions are invaluable, and we will continue to stand with you as we work toward a safer, more secure, and more just future for all transit workers.