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Strike averted as handyDART drivers, employer reach tentative agreement

A looming strike of the 102 drivers and staff in Victoria’s handyDART system was averted Wednesday with a tentative agreement.

A looming strike of the 102 drivers and staff in Victoria’s handyDART system was averted Wednesday with a tentative agreement.

Unifor Local 333, which represents the workers, announced the agreement with First Canada, the subcontractor who works under B.C. Transit to provide door-to-door transit for seniors and people with disabilities.

Union members are to vote Monday on the agreement.

The workers were poised to begin job action on Thursday.

Ben Williams, Local 333 president, said the agreement is gratifying, especially for citizens who rely on handyDART for transportation.

“We are just happy that we could get this agreement without causing any disruption in service,” Williams said in a telephone interview.

Drivers were originally set to strike on Monday. However, the B.C. Labour Relations Board ruled the union had to re-issue 72-hour strike notice after First Canada applied for an amendment to the essential-services designation plan.

HandyDART has a 56-vehicle fleet and provides door-to-door transit services to people with disabilities.

There were about 393,000 individual handyDART trips taken in 2016-17.