Montreal residents faced the prospect of no bus or Metro service over the upcoming weekend, as a strike by the union representing bus drivers, Metro operators, and station agents was authorized by the province’s labour tribunal. Despite a temporary halt in the month-long strike by maintenance workers earlier in the week, the public transit shutdown is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. Only adapted transit services will be operational during this period.
The tribunal justified its decision by stating that the temporary suspension of public transit for two days would not endanger the health and safety of the population. The bus drivers’ union, SCFP 1983, expressed optimism about reaching an agreement before the weekend, emphasizing that negotiations were ongoing with the STM.
Efforts to expedite legislation that would end the strikes were unsuccessful, as the government failed to garner support from all opposition parties. The proposed bill aimed to grant the government authority to intervene in strikes that impact the well-being of the population. Despite the setback, Premier François Legault confirmed that no further action would be taken to expedite the bill’s passage.
The discord between the government and opposition parties regarding the legislation left the Labour Minister disappointed, as he believed swift action was necessary to avoid disruptions to Montrealers. With the law set to take effect at the end of the month, the government expressed hope for a negotiated resolution before the planned weekend strike. Various organizations, including Montreal airport and public health authorities, presented arguments against a complete service shutdown during hearings this week.
This year has seen multiple disruptions to Montreal’s public transportation system due to contract disputes, with the maintenance workers’ union staging several strikes, including a nine-day strike in June and a two-week strike in September. The union representing bus drivers also participated in a one-day strike in early November, leading to service interruptions across bus routes and the Metro network.