Nearly a quarter of the entire workforce for Via Metropolitan Transit are veterans who served in all five branches of the armed forces, and these workers were honored at a ceremony on the eve of Veterans Day and presented with a pin to commemorate their service.
The pin can be worn on the Via uniform as a visible reminder of the sacrifices the veterans and their family members have endured in the service of their country, reminding transit users and the community at large of the depth of their commitment and dedication.
“One of the things that makes this country great is the willingness of our citizens to serve in the military,” said Via President/CEO Jeffery Arndt at the ceremony in the Via Metro Center. “We are proud to support veterans in our ranks, and we see the worth in hiring people who have been in the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard. The discipline and integrity they learn while in the service carries over into their careers here, making them valued members of our workforce.”
Out of 1,995 total employees at Via, 493 of them are veterans, making up 24.7 percent of the workers. The percentage is even higher for the bus and van operators, who make up the largest segment of the workforce at 1,134 employees. Of these operators, 313 are veterans, which amounts to 27.6 percent.
Recent hiring efforts by Via have focused on attracting military veterans, including the development of targeted advertisements and outreach efforts to encourage former service members to apply at VIA.
