83 Percent of ATU Local 1724 Members Overwhelmingly Rejected Transdev Contract
Vancouver, BC – After a resounding rejection of Transdev’s contract offer earlier this week, the more than 600 frustrated HandyDART workers will conduct a full work stoppage starting Tuesday, September 3 at 5 AM.
“This vote sends an unequivocal message to Transdev and Translink that our members have had enough. We are walking off the job because our fight is for the future of accessible transit in our city. Neither workers nor riders can continue to allow a foreign corporation to siphon millions of dollars from taxpayers while paying workers 16-30% less than transit workers doing the exact same jobs down the street,” said Joe McCann, President/Business Agent of ATU Local 1724, representing the HandyDART workers. “Transdev reports year-after-year growth with profits, yet riders wonder why HandyDART service still struggles to meet demand: the answer is corporate greed.”
The Union reports that although they have communicated to Transdev that they are ready and willing to meet with Transdev at any time or place in an effort to come to an agreement, Transdev management has communicated that it will be unable to meet to negotiate until September 12.
In 2022, HandyDART provided just half the amount of service per senior as it had in 2008; and advocacy groups have long argued that service is falling far short of the increasing demands by Vancouver’s aging population. The Union reports that staffing shortages are more than double that of the rest of Translink, and that the root cause of staffing and service shortages is poor compensation in comparison to other transit jobs in the region.
Worker shortages have also led to the skyrocketing use of taxis at HandyDART, and riders have complained that taxi drivers do not have the same training and do not provide the same door-to-door service, which poses severe safety problems for riders.
“According to Transdev’s current offer, our members would never reach wage parity with HandyDART workers in neighboring communities, who already make $5 more than our members,” McCann continued. “It’s wrong for Vancouverites to earn less and for Vancouver riders to suffer as a result. This work is valuable, and as a community we must fight together to ensure that Transdev compensates our members fairly.”
“Our members don’t want to go on strike because we know how crucial our work is, ensuring that Vancouver seniors and people with disabilities have safe transport to vital and lifesaving appointments – provided by our caring, professional drivers. But Transdev and Translink have left us with no other option,” said ATU International President John Costa.” Our HandyDART members have the full support of our membership across Canada and the U.S. It’s time for Transdev to come back to the table to give these workers the contract they deserve.”