The operator of Metro Vancouver害羞草研究所檚 specialized HandyDART transit system says it will meet with striking workers and a mediator on Sunday in an effort to resolve the dispute that has shut down most of the service.

TransDev Canada says it害羞草研究所檚 been in contact with the B.C. Labour Relations Board, which had contacted the union in an effort to resolve the contract dispute, and both sides had agreed to the meeting.

TransDev says an essential service agreement means the door-to-door transport system is still available for those with medical conditions who need to get to appointments for cancer, renal or multiple-sclerosis treatments.

Other HandyDART trips in Metro Vancouver have been cancelled for an indefinite period after unionized workers began their strike Tuesday morning.

Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724 says most of its members are 害羞草研究所渇rustrated,害羞草研究所� and rejected the company害羞草研究所檚 final contract offer last week after dealing with staffing shortages and 害羞草研究所減oor compensation害羞草研究所� compared to other transit employees.

The local害羞草研究所檚 financial secretary, Laura Wylie, says it害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所済reat害羞草研究所� news that the company is ready to talk on Sunday, but the union is willing to meet even sooner.

The striking HandyDART workers meanwhile staged a rally in Vancouver where union boss Joe McCann said allowing the service to be run by a for-profit company isn害羞草研究所檛 working, and it害羞草研究所檚 up to regional transport provider TransLink to step in and 害羞草研究所渇ix this mess.害羞草研究所�

McCann said the service in Metro Vancouver had been contracted out to France-based Transdev since 2018.

害羞草研究所淭ransdev is a private for-profit company. HandyDART and our clients are not a model for profit, it doesn害羞草研究所檛 work 害羞草研究所� It害羞草研究所檚 a failed experiment,害羞草研究所� said McCann, who was joined by the union害羞草研究所檚 international president, John Costa.

害羞草研究所淥ur workers are valued differently. They are treated differently than regular transit drivers. Our passengers are marginalized, they are not valued. It害羞草研究所檚 sad.害羞草研究所�

Hundreds showed up at the rally at Thornton Park across from the Pacific Central Station in Vancouver.

McCann said the union wasn害羞草研究所檛 just calling for better pay for workers and better services for riders but also wanted the TransLink board to take control of HandyDART害羞草研究所檚 Metro Vancouver operation.

害羞草研究所淭ake us in-house, TransLink, that害羞草研究所檚 enough of this failed experiment 害羞草研究所� tell Transdev to come to the table, tell them to step up, pay up, and let害羞草研究所檚 take care of our passengers,害羞草研究所� said McCann.

It said the union local had told Transdev Canada it was willing to continue negotiating, but the company would not meet until Sept. 12. Transdev later announced the Sept. 8 meeting.

害羞草研究所淥ur priority remains to reach a fair contract that balances the needs of our employees, HandyDART clients, and taxpayers,害羞草研究所� read the TransDev statement.

害羞草研究所漌e apologize to the community for the public impact of this collective bargaining dispute.害羞草研究所�

Jonathan Ascenicio, a HandyDART rider from Tsawwassen, attended the rally.

He said even though the strike affected him as a user, he wanted to show support for the workers.

Ascenicio said that after suffering a stroke at the age of 28, he started using HandyDART, which took him to destinations including his therapy in Surrey.

Ascenicio said HandyDART workers would have 害羞草研究所済reat conversations害羞草研究所� with him and treated their riders with care and love.

害羞草研究所淗andyDART workers do it not because of the money, they do it because they care,害羞草研究所� said Ascenicio.

But he said HandyDART drivers in Metro Vancouver deserved as much money as other transit drivers.

North Burnaby resident Beth McKellar, chair of the HandyDart Riders害羞草研究所� Alliance, also showed up at the rally and agreed with McCann害羞草研究所檚 call to bring Metro Vancouver害羞草研究所檚 service in house.

McKellar said she had been using HandyDART for more than 20 years and its drivers had made her tough days easier.

She encouraged fellow HandyDART passengers affected by the strike to reach out to their neighbours for help.

害羞草研究所淗ang in there, folks, It害羞草研究所檚 short-term pain for long-term gain,害羞草研究所� she said.