With deep sorrow and heartfelt respect, SMART-TD mourns the untimely passing of Brother Darryl Lennell Redmon, General Chairperson of GO-STU First Student 1704 (Kansas City, MO) who departed this life on May 26, 2025, at the age of 73.  

A Leader of Principle and Compassion

Brother Redmon’s leadership style was characterized by empathy and respect for the voices of his fellow members. Whether representing operators at the bargaining table or encouraging member participation through grassroots outreach, he led with conviction and compassion. As noted by Sister Ethel Maze, Vice Chairperson of the General Committee and President of Local 1704: 

“Mr. Redmon devoted himself fully to the betterment of our Local. He stayed late for meetings, passed out flyers to encourage membership involvement, and continuously inspired others through his dedication and tireless efforts. His commitment to our union and its members was unwavering. 

Brother Redmon was truly one of a kind. His leadership, integrity and presence will be profoundly missed by all of us at Local 1704.” 

A Calling, Not Just a Career

Though his tenure with our union was brief, the depth of his impact will be felt for years to come through the contracts he helped shape, the lives he touched, and the unwavering example of servant leadership he provided.  

Brother Redmon joined SMART-TD in September 2022 as a school bus operator in Kansas City, Missouri. From the outset, his clarity of purpose and passion for advocating on behalf of working people set him apart. Within a year, he was elected Vice President of Local 1704, and in January 2024, he was elevated to General Chairperson, a role he embraced with humility, integrity, and a relentless drive to uplift his union family. 

Outside his union roles, Brother Redmon lived a life defined by service. He was known for his love of family, dedication to the community and profound faith. 

Honoring His Life and Work

Brother Redmon’s passing is a loss not only for Local 1704 but for the entire SMART-TD family. He is survived by his five beloved children, grandchildren, siblings, his dear special friend Angela Strass, and a host of family members, friends, and colleagues who all have our deepest sympathies.  His devotion to his family and faith was as strong as his commitment to his union, and he carried both with grace and honor. 

As we mourn, we also recommit ourselves to the mission that Brother Redmon lived every day: to protect, uplift, and unite each other through solidarity and service. His legacy will live on in every contract won, every member supported, and every child safely brought home by the operators he so passionately represented. 

We extend our deepest condolences to the Redmon family and the entire Local 1704 community. May we continue to honor our brother’s life not just in memory, but in action. 

Visitation for Brother Redmon will be held at Mount Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home (10507 Holmes Rd. Kansas City, MO 64131, on Thursday, June 5 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.  

The funeral service will be held the following morning from 10:00 am to 11:00 am on Friday, June 6, at the Sheffield Family Life Center Assemblies Of God (5700 Winner Rd. Kansas City, MO 64127). 

Brother Redmon’s Graveside Committal will be held at Mount Moriah Cemetery (10507 Holmes Rd. Kansas City, MO 64131, at 12:30-12:45 following the funeral service.  

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The members of California Local 1741’s Local Committee of Adjustment for San Carlos Schools (LCA SCS) have ratified a new tentative agreement with a remarkable 96% approval rate. 

Their new two-year contract brings tangible gains in wages, retirement security, workplace rights, and union protections. The ratified contract goes into effect with the first full pay period after August 1, 2025. 

Key Gains for SMART-TD Bus Members in San Carlos

• Wage Increases: A 6.8% increase in top pay over two years, by the end of this period these members will enjoy the highest rate for School Bus Operators in the region. 
• 401(k) Match Doubles: The employer match for retirement contributions will increase from $500 to $1,000 by 2027, creating a stronger path to financial security for members. 
• Union Release Time: For the first time, union officers have secured the right to be released from their shifts for official union business, giving them more flexibility to serve and protect the membership. 
• Enhanced Discipline and Grievance Procedures: Members now benefit from more favorable timelines and an improved process that strengthens their voice in disciplinary matters. 
• No Concessions Given! 

These improvements, along with additional updates throughout the contract, reflect months of determined negotiations and collaborative effort between Local 1741 LCA SCS leadership and SMART-TD’s national Bus Department. 

Union Leadership Voices

Brother Timothy Haran, General Chairperson of Local 1741 LCA SCS, praised the solidarity and dedication of the membership, saying, “Talking with our members, they wanted to see a raise in wages, they wanted to see an increase in their 401(k) plans. All in all, what we wanted was security, and we got it in this contract.” Haran added that he wanted to thank Vice President James Sandoval for his role in the negotiations. “James is old school union. That is exactly what 1741 needed to get this done.” 

James Sandoval, Vice President of the SMART-TD Bus Department, who assisted throughout the process, added: 

“Brother Haran did a tremendous job advocating for our members. This agreement not only improves conditions now, but it also lays the groundwork for even stronger contracts in the future. Something I don’t want to see get lost in this agreement is the win that Tim (Brother Haran) got, allowing the leadership of 1741 LCA SCS to take the time off work needed to represent our brothers and sisters. This is one of those easily overlooked wins that will pay dividends in the short term and long term. Our Bus Operators work hard, and they deserve to be represented by officers who aren’t constrained by how much time and effort can go into working for them!” 

Looking Ahead

With this victory, Local 1741 continues to lead by example in the fight for fair treatment, dignity, and respect for school bus operators across the country. 

SMART-TD congratulates Local 1741’s LCA SCS members on this hard-earned and well-deserved success. 

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Farmington, NM — SMART-TD Local 1687, the bus Operators working for Red Apple Transit, have unanimously ratified a four-year agreement that delivers a significant wage increase, along with new quality of life precedents. 

The Secret to Employee Retention: Respect, Wages and Quality of Life 

“Red Apple came to us frustrated with retention issues and their inability to attract quality operators. We told them point-blank: the quickest way to solve that problem is to raise wages. This agreement shows they heard us loud and clear.” Local Chairperson Steve Economos explained. 

• When compounded over the four years of the agreement, Local 1687’s members will receive a total wage increase of 22.13%. 

• Paid Holidays Doubled: From five to ten paid holidays per year. 

• Bereavement Policy Modernized: Members can use bereavement leave non-consecutively, allowing time for both immediate needs and future services. 

• Paid Sick Leave Expanded: Sick time has been increased from 40 hours to 64 hours annually, adding three additional paid sick days per year. 

• PTO Protection During Weather Delays: Previously, Local 1687 members were forced to use PTO when weather delays affected service. That unfair practice ends with this agreement. 

Transit Union Creates New Bereavement Leave Precedent 

The flexible bereavement leave policy is a powerful new precedent for SMART-TD locals across the country. What started as a Local 1687 priority could be used to negotiate a nationwide standard. Additionally, small injustices like being forced to use their PTO for weather delays don’t make headlines, but they have a real impact on morale. “These are the kinds of things a union is here to fight for,” he said. “We don’t let those things slide.” 

The Tentative Agreement (TA) was negotiated by Brother Economos with support from SMART-TD Vice President James Sandoval and General Committee Chairperson Justin Schrock. 

“I want to thank our incredible membership for standing together on this. The company didn’t want to lose our members, and that made it so we were able to get our wage increase and much more.” Brother Economos went on to say. “I also want to thank Vice President James Sandoval and General Committee Chairperson Justin Schrock for their work and creativity throughout the process.” 

General Committee Chairperson Justin Schrock praised Economos’s leadership during negotiations. “Brother Economos knew exactly what his members wanted, and he carried that with him through every step of this process. He never wavered. I also want to thank Bus Vice President James Sandoval. I had never negotiated alongside James before, but his creativity, knowledge, and determination to win for our members left a strong impression. It was an honor to work with him.” 

Schrock had one final message for the members of Local 1687: “Your hard work is seen, and this agreement proves that Red Apple recognizes the high level of talent and professionalism our members bring to the job every day. They’ve shown they’re willing to pay to retain it, and that’s because of you.” 

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In a significant development for transit workers across the nation, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced its first-ever general directive aimed at addressing the alarming rise in assaults against transit operators. This directive, formally known as General Directive 24-1, requires more than 700 transit agencies to implement measures to enhance the safety of frontline workers.

Acting FTA Administrator Veronica Vanterpool highlighted the importance of this initiative, stating, “No American should go to work and worry they will not return home safely. That is particularly true for the transit workers who were valuable frontline workers in our nation’s time of need.” She emphasized that the directive is just one step toward improving safety for transit professionals who face increasing risks on the job.

Jared Cassity, Alternate National Legislative Director for the SMART-TD Transit Union, expressed enthusiasm for the new directive. “FTA has just issued a first-ever general directive, and, rightfully, is focused on the number one issue of operator assault. We have actively lobbied for the FTA to gain more enforcement authority — something they have historically lacked. We recognize Administrator Vanterpool for taking the bull by the horns and doing a fantastic job in this vital area.”

SMART-TD, led by our Bus Department and the Bus and Transit Assault Prevention and Safety (BTAPS) Committee, has been in ongoing communication with FTA throughout the multi-year process leading to this announcement. The union has expressed gratitude for the unprecedented level of outreach from FTA during this critical initiative.

“The collaborative efforts between SMART-TD and FTA have been invaluable,” SMART-TD Bus Department Vice President Alvy Hughes noted. “We share their vision of stopping the epidemic of transit assault, and we are committed to working alongside the FTA, Administrator Vanterpool, and the Biden-Harris administration to protect our transit professionals.

“This union has given detailed reports of what needs to happen to protect our transit members to FTA. Administrator Vanderpool met with us this summer to discuss how to make this happen. FTA’s Chief Safety Officer, Joe DeLorenzo, came to SMART-TD’s National Training Seminar to work with our BTAPS committee and local officers from our bus and transit locals across the country,” he said.  “When they reached out to us, they weren’t explaining to us what ‘their’ plan was. They wanted our first-hand experiences, information, and insight to help them mold ‘our combined’ plan. I’ve never seen this kind of responsiveness from an administration. So far, the results reflect their effort. VP James Sandoval and I are pleased they have decided the time for further studies is over and that they are putting the plan into action to protect our people.”

General Directive 24-1 mandates that transit agencies conduct risk assessments, identify strategies for mitigating risks and ensure the involvement of joint labor-management Safety Committees in these efforts. This proactive approach comes in response to a troubling 120 percent increase in reported assaults against transit workers from 2013 to 2021.

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A gunman was taken into custody early today by a SWAT team following a fatal shooting and hijacking of a Los Angeles County Metro Transportation Authority (LACMTA) bus early this morning.

The bus operator used a panic button to alert authorities to the dangerous situation, according to General Chairperson John Ellis of GCA-875, which represents members of six SMART-TD transit union locals with LACMTA employees. “We praise the calm demeanor and heroic actions of the operator,” Ellis said.

Media reports say the bus driver, a SMART-TD Transit Union member, was held at gunpoint by the suspect. Our driver and a passenger were rescued by police after the hourlong incident. Another passenger was fatally wounded. The suspect was taken into police custody.

CNN, citing a deputy L.A. police chief, reported that the driver “was in relatively good spirits,” immediately after the incident.

“This grave incident emphasizes the continuing safety concerns that our members have raised and that we, your general committee, have vehemently expressed to Metro management,” Ellis said. “The protection of our members remains the very top priority of your union.” 

It was not known whether the hijacked LACMTA bus was equipped with new barricades called for by SMART-TD and approved by LACMTA board members earlier this year.

“We have been the driving force in Metro’s decision to install protective driver barriers aboard the buses. It should be noted that Metro promised us that they would complete installation of the barriers by the end of the year,” Ellis said. “In addition, recently, we strongly supported a Metro board motion to entirely revamp Metro’s police protection to better safeguard our members. This process has [already] begun.”

A similar LACMTA hijacking occurred in March of this year. SMART-TD called for barricades for drivers.

The SMART-TD Transit Union represents thousands of bus operators and rail workers for LACMTA, which serves 900,000 passengers daily. It is the third-largest transit agency in the U.S.

SMART Transportation Division Bus and Transit Assault Prevention and Safety (BTAPS) Chairperson Christine Ivey is responding to the situation.

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In a significant victory for transit workers across Arizona, the state has enacted a new law, signed in July, which brings strict penalties for assaults on transit workers.

“Our transit workers play an essential role in our communities, ensuring safe and reliable transportation every day,” said Scott Jones, the SMART-TD transit union Safety and Legislative Director (SLD) for Arizona. “When it comes right down to it, my legislative board is sick and tired of people assaulting our brothers and sisters and getting away with it with just a slap on the wrist.”

Brother Jones worked diligently to navigate the complexities of Arizona’s divided state Legislature. His strategic approach and persistent efforts in rallying support were pivotal in overcoming the challenges posed by a fragmented legislative environment.

Jones was joined in his support of his crucial legislation by sponsor Sen. Justine Wadsak (17^th District) as well as Rep. Consuelo Hernandez (D-21st District).

“This new law represents a new day in Arizona. If you put your hands on a SMART-TD member or any transit professional, you’re going to have to face real consequences,” Jones said.

“There were times when this bill was getting pushback from Democrats and Republicans alike, and [Wadsak] spoke our members’ truth to power and made everyone see this has nothing to do with politics,” he said. “It is a matter of right and wrong; safety versus violent chaos. She worked side by side with us, and our members and this state are safer for her efforts.”

As Arizona celebrates this new law, SMART-TD and its members can take pride in knowing that their voices made a significant impact. The protection and support of transit workers remain a top priority for SMART-TD, and this legislative victory is a clear demonstration of SMART-TD’s ongoing commitment to securing a safer future for all those who serve our communities through public transit and who use it.

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School bus company First Student in Gardena, California, turned away the delegation from SMART-TD Local 1909, despite previously agreeing to host our union at their employee orientation meeting.

The yard won several new routes from a local competitor, bringing in more than 90 new operators. Unlike other properties, these employees did not automatically become part of our union family. They must choose.

Seven SMART-TD officers, including SMART-TD Bus Department Vice President James Sandoval, were turned away at the door.

But SMART-TD doesn’t step aside.

SMART-TD bus and transit union prepares a warm welcome

The employer decided that it didn’t want to allow space indoors for SMART-TD to meet with new employees, so we met with operators outside.

Chairperson and Local President Maria Morales and Secretary Tanisha Anderson set up on the lawn across the street, while VP Sandoval brought reinforcements in the form of fresh doughnuts.

SMART-TD welcomed the new operators, discussed the benefits of representation, the union’s safety initiatives, and how to protect their quality of life. Our crew gathered 19 signed A-cards on the spot.

Morales and Anderson were joined by Sandoval, Bus Department Alternate Vice President Markeisha Haynes, Bus and Transit Assault Prevention and Safety (BTAPS) Committee members Sandra Pineda and Pedro “Pete” Lara, and David Liddle, a UTUIA rep and member of SMART-TD Local 1674.

As management’s scheduled meeting broke up, SMART-TD relocated the conversation to a local restaurant. At the impromptu reception, another 30 employees met our representatives.

Most of them signed up for union communications via Telegram, a preferred way for bus and transit union members to communicate.

“We talked about upcoming contract negotiations and how solidarity is our greatest strength in getting a solid contract.” VP Sandoval said. “We emphasized that the core of solid organizing is solid communication, Telegram is one of the best tools we have to keep everyone informed, engaged, and ready for anything.”

This is what our union family is all about. We confront challenges together, we don’t back down from management, and we will go to any length to make sure bus and transit workers receive the representation they deserve.

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After three years without a revised contract, SMART-TD Local 1704 ratified a tentative agreement (TA) in Kansas City, Missouri, on Saturday with First Student. The 66-member local’s refreshed contract secured significant raises, the addition of one paid holiday and made it so that six years of seniority raised their members to the top of the pay scale, rather than the 16 years required in past contracts.

Preparation from SMART-TD bus union empowered Local 1704 leaders

After months of negotiation, Local President Ethel Maze was quick to credit the preparation she and her team, including General Chairperson Darryl Redmon and Trustee Carol Johnson, received from Bus Department Vice President James Sandoval for their success. Maze said that in past negotiations, she had been in the room but wasn’t able to take the lead in getting her people what they needed. This time around, she could rise to meet the moment.

“James (VP Sandoval) spent an entire day with a group of four local officers and taught us things we never knew about how to advocate for our members,” she said. “Not only did this help in negotiating this agreement, but it also made me more effective in representing my members on the property in day-to-day operations.

Know your contract and stand firm

“Through my conversations with James, I found things in our agreement First Student has never honored. It empowered me to go into the office and stand firm, insisting on improvements to which we are contractually entitled. All in all, our team, along with VP Sandoval, put Local 1704 on a better track, and we provided a quality of life for our men and women that is better than our managers wanted us to believe was possible,” Maze continued.

SMART-TD succeeds in tense negotiations

Negotiations came to a head when management called for an all-day closed-door session.

Sandoval attended the meeting and had high praise for the efforts and professionalism of 1704’s local officers.

“Maze, Redmond, and Johnson were an impressive team. It was obvious to everyone in the room that they had done their homework,” he said. “Sister Maze took the lead in the negotiations, and she left no doubt that she knew the contract, the rights of her people, and most importantly, that she had her finger on the pulse of what her brothers and sisters needed to achieve in this agreement.”

Preparation and hard work results in overwhelming support

The proud, 66-member local had not received a significant raise or a revised contract in three years. Their local negotiating team received overwhelming support by their brothers and sisters.  The July 20^th vote ratified the tentative agreement with a resounding 97% approval.

LACMTA, SEPTA, CATS, Montebello, California, and other properties have won strong agreements, increased member safety, and operators and mechanics were brought back to work. While these large properties get large headlines, SMART-TD believes that, whether a local has 60 or 600 members, every member deserves the same training, representation and resources.

That’s how we fight, and why we win.

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CLEVELAND — The closing session of the SMART Transportation Division 2024 National Training Seminar highlighted an eventful year in terms of bus and transit safety. By continuing to communicate safety concerns at all levels SMART-TD can continue to lead the charge for member safety. Union leadership shared several victories and outlined the road ahead.

Bus Day on the Hill

For the first time, members of the SMART-TD Bus Department engaged legislators and representatives from federal agencies in our nation’s capital.

To raise awareness about members’ issues, National Legislative Director Greg Hynes, Bus Vice Presidents Alvy Hughes and James Sandoval and the Bus and Transit Assault Prevention and Safety (BTAPS) Committee made 15 visits to members of Congress and to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

“We’d never done that before for bus and transit,” President Jeremy Ferguson said. “The assaults have to stop. We’re done with it. Our operators have to be protected.”

By all accounts, the event got the attention of Capitol Hill and the FTA.

“I was getting reports all day and the second day, they rolled into FTA — the first time FTA has heard from SMART,” President Ferguson said.  “My hat’s off to all of you to what you accomplished on that day.”

FTA Chief Safety Officer: Communication is key

Joe DeLorenzo, one of the chief safety officers of the FTA, addressed transit union officers at the seminar. He stressed that there are practical steps to improve safety across the board — but the key first step is to share information with the union and with the watchdog agencies.

“There’s a lot of good information out there,” he said. “But we still need more.”

The kind of safety information the FTA needs from our members has broadened. Transit union officers and their members give the real picture of what’s happening. Their reports are crucial, he said.

Bus operators: Don’t accept problems as just “part of the day”

“The more information that I have, the easier it is for me to try and navigate all of the challenges to try to get something done, something that can be helpful to you all in Washington, D.C.” DeLorenzo said. “For a lot of bus operators, a lot of the things that have happened over the years have just come to be ‘part of the day’ and not even things to be reported, but they are, and we need to kind of move forward to doing that.”

DeLorenzo stressed that individual union members have the power to change things to be safer for operators and for their ridership.

“Safety is really driven by the people implementing it, and that’s where those ideas and communications need to come from,” he said.

SMART-TD transit union provides safety reporting tools

SMART-TD has a universal Safety Condition Report that any member can use to report safety concerns on their properties.

The union’s BTAPS committee is developing a new form to report transit assaults.

Similar tools provide a way to report technology failures on freight locomotives and rail hours of service violations. Union leadership uses evidence from member reports to confront management, and to support negotiations for stronger contracts and better legislation.

Union-issued public comments make a difference

SMART-TD’s National Legislative Department frequently issues comments that help shape federal policy. A comment directed to the FTA by SMART-TD helped craft a provision that the representatives on bus/transit safety committees have to be split 50/50, rather than be tilted toward management.

That couldn’t have been done without open communication between SMART-TD transit union members, international officers and the FTA. Our work makes a difference.

“There’s no silver bullet for safety culture,” DeLorenzo said. “It’s been a challenging time for transit agencies, which makes it more and more important to focus on safety.”

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SMART Transportation Division National Legislative Director Greg Hynes and his department led the charge in our nation’s capital to get bus and transit members’ safety concerns in front of members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate.

This union, our Bus Department and the Bus/Transit Assault Prevention and Safety (BTAPS) committee have been advocating for Congress to act to end the startling growth of violent assaults on the nation’s public transit workforce.

President Biden’s administration and the Federal Transit Administration have begun to make moves to address shortcomings in security. SMART-TD and BTAPS are now taking our issues directly to Congress urging them to act on transit safety, which is a life-and-death issue for our brothers and sisters.

• TD to transit agencies: Let’s try “every single thing” to protect our operators
• SMART-TD Union Demands Action in Wake of Los Angeles Bus Hijacking
• SMART-TD takes action to defend transit worker safety

Hynes said he’s “fired up about how his team represented this union and the potential results of their great work.”

TD directly engages U.S. Congress and agency directors

“Our new BTAPS committee had a fantastic showing. All six members from across the country made the trip. Along with Bus Department VPs (Alvy) Hughes and (James) Sandoval, they brought the realities of the roads and rails with them into the halls of Congress today. Their message hit home with these officials because they were undeniably authentic.” Hynes said.

Hynes’ team, along with Christine Ivey, chairperson of BTAPS, and her team of bus and transit rail safety advocates met with the offices of 13 members of the House of Representatives, 2 U.S. senators, and the staff director of the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

“I’m proud of the effort this union put forward today, and I have high expectations for the results. I want to thank Christine and the BTAPS members for making an important contribution to this union today and to the safety and well-being of our membership,” Hynes said.

In addition to our BTAPS members, SMART-TD was represented by Bus Department Vice Presidents Hughes and Sandoval, plus New Jersey State Legislative Director Ron Sabol as well as SMART-TD Auxiliary’s Monica Sandoval.

“We took a powerful step forward, but this is just the beginning,” VP Sandoval said. “We will not take our foot off the pedal until every transit worker is safe and secure. Only together will we make sure our voices and stories continue to echo through Capitol Hill.”

On a second day of meetings, Hynes led a team of SMART-TD leaders in a highly successful meeting with acting FTA Administrator Veronica Vanterpool. Administrator Vanterpool was highly receptive to the message and perspective SMART-TD had to share with her.

Administrator Vanterpool, who has a commercial driver’s license and four years of experience as a bus operator on her resume, quickly identified with the realities SMART-TD presented in their meeting. She is hoping FTA can partner with SMART-TD and our BTAPS committee in an effort to collect data on future assaults directly from our membership rather than depending on the transit agencies to self-report the information.

SMART-TD Alternate National Legislative Director Jared Cassity had this to say: “In talking with acting Administrator Vanterpool, it immediately became clear that she is eager to address the same safety issues as this union. She went into detail on the new property-specific safety committees that she and the Biden administration are instituting for our bus members and was engaged in dialogue with our people about how SMART-TD can play an active role in the success of their mission.”

Bus Department Vice President Alvy Hughes added, “I’ve been involved in this union and this Bus Department for a long time now. I can tell you that the meeting we had with Administrator Vanterpool and the work we put in on Capitol Hill the day before has been one of the most-productive projects I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in. This organization is stronger, and our members will be made safer through what we accomplished during this first-of-its-kind Bus/Transit Day on the Hill.”

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