The head of the union for striking HandyDART transit workers in Metro Vancouver says he鈥檚 cautiously optimistic ahead of Sunday鈥檚 mediated negotiations with their employer, but members are prepared to stay on strike 鈥渁s long as it takes.鈥�

Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724 president Joe McCann says it鈥檚 concerning that employer Transdev waited a week to come to the table with a mediator, but the union remains 鈥渙ptimistic鈥� a deal can be done.

About 600 employees of the accessible door-to-door transit service have been on strike since Tuesday, only offering trips to essential medical appointments, over demands for better pay, closer to that of other transit services.

McCann says the lack of appropriate pay has led to struggles recruiting and retaining staff and the union is seeking a raise of about five dollars an hour.

He has previously said Transdev鈥檚 last contract offer was rejected by 83 per cent of union members who participated in the vote.

Transdev said in a statement on the first day of the strike that its priority 鈥渞emains to reach a fair contract that balances the needs of our employees, HandyDART clients, and taxpayers.鈥�