Essential med. trips to be maintained during strike
HandyDart drivers could be on strike as soon as Monday if strike notice was served as expected this week.
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Updated: October 22, 2009 2:06 PM
By Jeff Nagel
Black Press
A strike is looming that threatens to disrupt HandyDart service across Metro Vancouver to seniors and the disabled starting Monday.
Unionized workers represented by local 1724 of the Amalgamated Transit Union were expected to serve 72-hour strike notice Thursday against MVT Canadian Bus Inc.
The company is the subsidiary of a U.S.-based firm that now operates the door-to-door custom transit service across Metro Vancouver.
TransLink last year awarded MVT a three-year $113-million contract to run HandyDart for the whole region, ending a patchwork of several different non-profit and for-profit service providers.
Union local president Dave Watt accused MVT of seeking “massive” concessions from workers to boost profits.
“MVT is looking to eliminate the pension plan, slash benefits and cut shifts in half,” Watt said.
Company representatives couldn’t be reached for comment, but a bargaining update posted by MVT says it remains committed to its customers.
“We will strive to ensure appropriate service levels are maintained during a strike,” the update said.
About 10 per cent of HandyDart trips serve patients who must go frequently to local hospitals for kidney dialysis or cancer treatment, but essential service levels approved by the Labour Relations Board will ensure those trips are maintained.
The union represents more than 500 drivers, office and maintenance staff at HandyDart.
Workers voted 97 per cent in favour of strike action in August to back contract demands.
Negotiations between the two sides have been underway for 10 months.
MVT had sought to block the union’s right to strike.
But in an agreement reached through a mediator earlier this month, the two sides each agreed the other has the right to initiate a strike or lockout and that the union won’t seek binding arbitration.
MVT says it gave wage parity to HandyDart drivers earlier this year, increasing pay for 60 per cent of drivers.
The company had also offered modest wage hikes as part of a new contract, provided it gets increased flexibility and powers to contract out.
No talks are scheduled until Tuesday.
jnagel@blackpress.ca
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