HandyDART will not be suspending its service in Richmond and the rest of the Lower Mainland.
"The union representing HandyDART employees has announced it is suspending all job action, pending a vote on a final contract offer from their employer, Transdev," said a TransLink release.
HandyDART delivers around 2,000 weekly trips in Richmond and 25,000 across the Lower Mainland.
The majority of HandyDART operations in Richmond could have been suspended starting Monday if a deal between the drivers' union, the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, and their employer, Transdev, hadn't been reached by Sunday night.
The service is vital for those who are unable to navigate the conventional public transit system without assistance.
The union was asking for an increase in wages and to match the conditions of HandyDART in the Fraser Valley.
HandyDART drivers in the Fraser Valley earn 16 per cent more than those in Metro Vancouver, while Coast Mountain drivers earn 30 per cent more.
In July, the union’s counter-offer to Transdev’s initial proposal consisted of an almost 21-per-cent wage increase over three years.
HandyDART customers aged 25 to 39 have the highest average trip rate, but those aged over 65 make up the largest portion.
Out of the 1.17 million trips throughout the Lower Mainland in 2023, 35 per cent were for day programs, 16 per cent for medical appointments and 14 per cent for dialysis.
- With files from Delta Optimist
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