HandyDART is once again threatening to strike on Sept. 3 across the Lower Mainland if a deal is not reached over the Labour Day long weekend.
Service will remain for those using the service for cancer, renal and MS appointments.
At this time, the union is ready to sit down on the bargaining table – however, their employer, Transdev, will wait and meet on Sept. 12, according to the Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1724 president Joe McCann.
“We are disappointed this private for-profit company is willing to leave our clients stranded for over a week,” he said.
On Aug. 26, HandyDART announced it would not be suspending its service in Richmond after a tentative agreement was reached over the weekend between the ATU and Transdev. A proposal by Transdev, however, was rejected by the union membership.
On Aug. 29, TransLink announced service might be impacted starting on Sept. 3 if a deal isn’t reached.
The union has been asking for an increase in wages and to match the conditions of HandyDART in the Fraser Valley – they earn 16 per cent more than those in Metro Vancouver, while Coast Mountain drivers earn 30 per cent more.
The service delivers around 2,000 weekly trips in Richmond and 25,000 across the Lower Mainland.
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