Close X
Friday, November 15, 2024
ADVT 
National

Strike threat looms in HandyDART dispute as union vote suspends job action

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 26 Aug, 2024 11:01 AM
  • Strike threat looms in HandyDART dispute as union vote suspends job action

Potential disruption to British Columbia's HandyDART transit service this morning was averted after workers suspended job action to vote on a final contract offer, but strike action remains a possibility.

Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724 says it will give a 72-hour strike notice if the membership votes down the latest offer by Transdev Canada.

Local 1724 president Joe McCann called the suspension of all job action "a gesture of goodwill" after what the union described as "months of bargaining and escalating job actions" ranging from uniform refusals to an overtime ban.

McCann says the vote will happen soon after information meetings for members held Sunday and today.

The union said last week that members would begin a "full work stoppage" today unless a tentative deal was reached with France-based Transdev, the contracted operator of HandyDART.

The two sides have been negotiating since last November, and Transdev Canada says in a statement that the company had been working to rebook trips of the door-to-door HandyDART service that were jeopardized by the possible strike.

MORE National ARTICLES

Court certifies flooding lawsuit against Abbotsford, B.C., as class action

Court certifies flooding lawsuit against Abbotsford, B.C., as class action
A judge has certified a class-action lawsuit alleging destruction in the November 2021 atmospheric river flooding in the Fraser Valley was magnified by improper operations of a pump station. B.C. Supreme Court Justice S. Dev Dley says the lawsuit's allegations against the City of Abbotsford potentially affected a significant number of people in the nearby Sumas Prairie area.

Court certifies flooding lawsuit against Abbotsford, B.C., as class action

Weekend armed robbery ID needed

Weekend armed robbery ID needed
R-C-M-P in Surrey are asking for the public's help in identifying two suspects and a vehicle allegedly involved in an armed robbery last weekend. They say officers were called to a business near the intersection of 120 Street and 92 Avenue, where it was reported that two men came in wearing masks and carrying what appeared to be one long gun and one handgun.

Weekend armed robbery ID needed

B.C. unveils 240-language racism reporting helpline

B.C. unveils 240-language racism reporting helpline
British Columbia has launched a new helpline for people who witness or experience a racist incident, with support available in more than 240 languages. The province says callers will receive support and guidance, which could include referrals to local community support services, such as counselling or help with reporting to police.

B.C. unveils 240-language racism reporting helpline

B.C. government to pay for COVID-19 drug Paxlovid after feds drop coverage

B.C. government to pay for COVID-19 drug Paxlovid after feds drop coverage
British Columbia will cover the cost of an antiviral drug aimed at treating mild to moderate cases of COVID-19 as the federal government ends its coverage. A statement from B.C.'s Health Ministry says the province will provide 100 per cent coverage for the treatment sold under the brand name Paxlovid, for B.C. residents with an active medical services plan.

B.C. government to pay for COVID-19 drug Paxlovid after feds drop coverage

Police clear road, arrest one pro-Palestinian protester on University of B.C. campus

Police clear road, arrest one pro-Palestinian protester on University of B.C. campus
Police have arrested one person during the clearance of pro-Palestinian protesters who were blocking a main intersection at the University of British Columbia campus in Vancouver. But there was no obvious move against a protest encampment that has occupied a sports field at the campus for a month.

Police clear road, arrest one pro-Palestinian protester on University of B.C. campus

Lawyer for trucker who caused deadly Broncos crash says families have no right to sue

Lawyer for trucker who caused deadly Broncos crash says families have no right to sue
Sixteen people were killed and 13 were injured when the rookie trucker went through a stop sign and into the path of the junior hockey team's bus at a rural intersection near Tisdale, Sask., in 2018. The truck driver, Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, was sentenced to eight years in prison for dangerous driving offences. Last week, Sidhu, who had permanent resident status, was ordered to be deported to India.

Lawyer for trucker who caused deadly Broncos crash says families have no right to sue