Montreal Transit Service to Gradually Resume After Strike

Montreal transit service is set to gradually resume on Wednesday following the end of a strike by unionized maintenance workers. The Montreal Transit Corporation (STM) announced in a news release late Tuesday that service will begin at 6:15 a.m.

While an agreement between the parties has not yet been finalized, STM CEO Marie-Claude Léonard confirmed that negotiations are ongoing.

The strike, involving 2,400 maintenance workers, began on the evening of October 31 and was initially scheduled to last until November 28. During the strike, bus and subway service in Montreal was limited to peak hours and late evenings, causing significant disruptions for commuters. This is the third strike by STM maintenance workers this year.

Meanwhile, the union representing the agency’s 4,500 bus drivers and subway operators has planned a two-day strike over the upcoming weekend, following a one-day strike on November 1 that halted all service.

The maintenance workers’ strike was set to conclude just as the government’s new labor law is scheduled to take effect on November 30. The legislation, adopted earlier this year, grants the labor minister the authority to end a labor dispute through binding arbitration if a strike or lockout is deemed harmful to the public. It also broadens the definition of services that must be maintained during a labor dispute to include those essential to the “well-being of the population.”

Labour Minister Jean Boulet stated Tuesday that he wants the ability to limit pressure tactics by STM workers. He plans to table a bill on Wednesday to bring the new law into force, which would give the government broad powers to end strikes.

The maintenance workers’ union criticized Boulet’s approach, arguing that it prioritizes curbing workers’ rights over adequately funding public transit. Negotiations with the STM were still ongoing as of Tuesday, according to the union.

Key issues in the discussions have included wage increases and the outsourcing of some maintenance work. STM has stated that the salary demands of the workers exceed the agency’s ability to pay.