The Union representing drivers of HandyDART buses serving people with disabilities in Greater Victoria says the service will shutdown Monday by a full-scale strike - this, after talks broke off.
In a news release Unifor Local 333 says the employer's negotiator has left town and no new talks are scheduled.
Local 333 President Ben Williams says operators and staff regret the impact on those who depend on the service, but they have been left with no choice. The sticking point was conferring fulltime status and benefits on a number of drivers that Williams says have been working fulltime hours for years.
Williams blames BC Transit and its contracted service provider -- First Canada -- for "driving negotiations into the ditch", adding a contract could have been reached by Monday if the negotiator had stayed.
The union will provide essential services but that will be extremely limited and most people with disabilities will have to find alternative transportation.