Unionized HandyDart workers will vote Friday on a final offer by employer MVT Canadian Bus Inc. to end the strike that began Monday.

But officials with the Amalgamated Transit Union say they're recommending their members reject the proposal.

"We expect it will be soundly defeated," said ATU negotiator Tyler Felbel, adding results of the vote aren't expected until late Friday night.

The walkout has stranded most disabled or elderly users of TransLink's custom door-to-door transit service.

Roughly 12 per cent of trips have been declared essential and continue to take patients to hospitals for renal dialysis or cancer treatment.

Some HandyDart users are trying to use regular transit, causing some boarding delays at stops for buses and community shuttles.

Felbel said the union apologizes for the inconvenience.

"We get to know our passengers from working with them on a daily basis," he said. "We understand that this could be a hardship for them. But in the long run we feel that this will be best for the service."

The main sticking point in the labour dispute involves changes to the pension plans of HandyDart workers.

Most of the 500 drivers, maintenance and office staff have generous municipal pensions, which the company wants to replace with contributions to RRSPs.

MVT has offered to contribute five per cent of employees' wages to self-directed employee RRSPs and add an extra two per cent if employees match that amount.

Felbel says MVT is offering to improve the pensions in 2012, but notes that's contingent on the company securing a contract extension from TransLink.

MVT, the subsidiary of a U.S. parent firm, took over HandyDart service earlier this year, replacing several different service providers, after winning a new $113-million three-year contract from TransLink.

Drivers have been paid between $17.47 and $20.25.

MVT has offered to raise that to $21.25 effective Jan. 1.

The union has asked for $25.35 and notes that most regular bus drivers are paid $28.35 an hour.

Felbel said a livable pay and pension package is important to retaining good, experienced employees.

Officials with MVT have said they're disappointed with the union's decision to strike and said they hope the offer will be accepted Friday.