HandyDART strike: Negotiations resume, but sides are far apart

Surrey, BC –

The union representing Metro Vancouver's HandyDART drivers and their employer, Transdev, are scheduled to return to the bargaining table on Thursday. Drivers walked off the job last Tuesday, halting most operations.

The dispute is mainly about pay. The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724 says its members do not earn as much as others who do similar jobs in other parts of Canada.

Gislaine Bates has been a HandyDART driver for six years. She spent Thursday morning with her colleagues at the picket line in Cloverdale.

“I make a good living, but I still live paycheck to paycheck because I don't make enough,” Bates told CTV News.

“I have to do a lot of overtime and stuff like that to pay the subsidies and that's not fair. I should be able to spend some time with my family.”

The drivers and Transdev will resume mediation talks on Thursday, but the union leader warned the strike could be short-lived. The two sides are still far apart, with the company's latest offer being rejected by members with 83 percent voting against.

HandyDART is a door-to-door transportation service for people who are unable to use traditional transportation. The service has been suspended for all but those who need transportation to urgent medical appointments, such as cancer treatment.

Hundreds of drivers gathered outside TransLink headquarters earlier this week, calling on the transport provider to intervene in the dispute with Transdev, which is tasked with overseeing the HandyDART service.

TransLink said it had no role in the labor dispute between the drivers and Transdev.

“I think it's ridiculous,” Bates said. “I think TransLink should step in, and I firmly believe TransLink would bring us in and fix the situation if they wanted to. I just think they're just trying to wash their hands of us.”

Transdev said earlier this week that the company would submit a response to the union's latest proposal on Thursday.

In a statement, the company said it “firmly believes” that its employees deserve a fair wage and that a fair contract must “balance the needs of employees, customers and taxpayers.”

Bates says her heart goes out to regular drivers who are stuck at home because of the strike.

“Short-term losses are better than long-term gains. Because I think if we have more attractive wages, we can attract drivers and get more buses on the road to provide rides,” Bates said.

With files from Shannon Patterson of CTV News Vancouver and the Canadian Press