HandyDART union members reject companies offer
Union president says they will file a 72-hour strike notice soon
HandyDART may soon halt service after 83 percent of its union workers voted to reject its employers latest offer.
The vote comes after Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724 suspended its job action over the weekend so its members had time to vote on the latest offer from Transdev, which has been contracted to operate HandyDART since 2018.
Joe McCann, the union’s president, told the Dispatch that members felt Transdev’s offered wages were too low — still below HandyDART drivers in the Fraser Valley.
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“We are disappointed this matter isn’t resolved and are assessing next steps,” Stacy Patenaude, the vice president of communications and public affairs for Transdev, told the Dispatch in an email.
This labour dispute has been ongoing since last November, with 96 per cent of workers voting to authorize a strike if necessary in June.
In an interview with the Dispatch last week, McCann said HandyDART drivers in Metro Vancouver are making $31.11 per hour while Fraser Valley drivers earn $36.09.
The Metro Vancouver workers are “trying to catch up” McCann explained.
HandyDART has had trouble with staffing shortages — the union says staff turnover is about double that of TransLink. McCann said he hopes a wage increase could mitigate that turnover rate, as many of their drivers have specialized training and can earn better money elsewhere.
People who aren’t able to use standard public transit without assistance rely on HandyDART to get to and from medical appointments, dialysis, day programs, work, education and other activities. During a strike, service would discontinue for all except for those with cancer, renal and MS appointments.
