Union says B.C. transit driver was denied keys, employer calls it an accident

VANCOUVER — The union for striking Metro Vancouver HandyDART transit workers has accused security for their employer of not allowing a driver to pick up bus keys to drive essential service shifts just days before mediation talks.

However, employer Transdev Canada says the incident on Wednesday morning was the result of a mistake, and only resulted in a 15-minute delay.

Most trips on the accessible transit service have been halted in Metro Vancouver since Tuesday amid a contract dispute, with mediation set to begin Sunday, but essential trips continue for people undergoing certain medical treatments.

The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724 says in a news release that when members tried to enter Transdev’s Burnaby depot on Wednesday, they were denied access despite previously agreeing to continue to perform essential medical trips.