HandyDART riders most impacted by union workers’ strike: advocate

Unionized HandyDART workers are set to walk off the job across Metro Vancouver this week and a rider of the HandyDART service says its clients will be the most impacted.

The chair of HandyDART Rider’s Alliance and a HandyDART rider of more than 20 years Beth McKellar says TransLink has taken the HandyDART service and “shoved it on the bottom shelf.”

“They really don’t care about us, it’s such a hands-off approach,” she said. “People aren’t getting any younger, they’re getting older and you got to keep up with the program on this.”

McKellar says HandyDART ‘s employer is a for-profit contractor and it does not care about its employees or its clients. But she understands why workers need to take action.

“They have families, mortgages to pay, the cost of living…we live in the most expensive city in the world,” she said.

“I’m hoping it’s a short-term pain for long-term gain. We have the best, amazing employees at HandyDart, it’s just poor management.”

McKellar says riders and their HandyDART drivers have developed meaningful relationships over the years.

“Sometimes the folks that do get out to do a bit of shopping, or go anywhere, we look forward to our drivers because they treat us with the utmost respect and they treat us like human beings, they genuinely care about us,” she said.

McKellar says the drivers are an integral part of the rider’s lives because they take care of a demographic that she says “are a burden just because we’re not like the able-bodied people.”

Earlier this month, McKellar told 1130 NewsRadio that there is no alternative to the work that HandyDART does, and she hopes the workers get the compensation they deserve. She said people who rely on HandyDART services are now forced to ask friends and family or commission taxis for rides.

The workers’ strike, a rally, and a picket are to be held at Thornton Park across from the Pacific Central Station on Tuesday after its more than 600 members walked off the job.

The rally will feature local president Joe McCann, international president John Costa, MP Bonita Zarillo, and other labour leaders. 

TransLink says the specialized, door-to-door service will still be available for people needing cancer, renal, or multiple sclerosis treatments.

In a statement sent to 1130 NewsRadio on Friday, Transdev said both “parties have currently secured a date to bargain on September 12th.”

-With files from Anthony Atanasov, Charles Brockman, and Michael Williams.