In an update, the union representing STM maintenance workers has announced the suspension of the strike starting from 6 a.m. on Nov. 12.
November has presented challenges for Montreal commuters as they navigate the city amidst ongoing strikes by STM workers. A month-long strike by maintenance workers, scheduled until Nov. 28, has led to reduced bus and Metro services operating only during rush hours, seven days a week.
Additionally, the union representing STM bus drivers, train operators, and station agents plans to stage a two-day strike on Nov. 15 and 16, potentially halting the entire public transit system as it did for a full day on Nov. 1. Disagreements between the STM and the union regarding the maintenance of essential services have led to a hearing at Quebec’s labor tribunal this week.
Meanwhile, the province’s labor minister is expediting the implementation of a law that would grant the Quebec government the authority to send the negotiating parties to arbitration.
Bus and Metro schedules have been adjusted with limited service during specific hours, while adapted transit continues to operate normally. The modified schedules for November are as follows:
– Bus service: 6:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m., 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and 11:15 p.m. to 1:15 a.m.
– Metro service: 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., 2:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., and 11 p.m. until closing time, with gradual station closures as the last train passes.
The union representing the STM’s administrative workers also plans to strike on Nov. 19, raising concerns over job security, subcontracting, and wages. Negotiations have been ongoing for 17 months. The union representing bus drivers, Metro operators, and station agents went on strike on Nov. 1 for the first time in 38 years.
The ongoing strikes have impacted various aspects of public transit, including concerns over overcrowded bus routes due to the temporary removal of articulated buses. Alternative transportation options and refunds for monthly passes are being offered to commuters affected by the disruptions.