HandyDART strike continues in Metro Vancouver as talks fail [Video]

Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks. 

Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, said they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.” 

However, he said the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.

About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since Sept. 3, pausing service for all but essential medical trips for those with appointments for cancer, renal or multiple sclerosis treatments.

McCann asked HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers, but also a better service for customers. 

The union president said in some ways they …