The possibility of a strike looms over Montreal’s public transportation system as the Société de transport de Montréal’s (STM) bus drivers and metro operators contemplate taking action after almost four decades without a strike.
The last time bus drivers and metro operators at STM went on strike was back in 1987, while maintenance employees have already walked off the job twice this year.
Frédéric Therrien, president of the local Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) chapter, expressed concerns about their wages, stating that they would be the lowest-paid drivers among major cities in Quebec, such as Longueuil, Laval, or Quebec City.
To draw attention to their grievances, the union recently launched a billboard campaign with a warning message to the public: “Buses and metro soon on strike. Thank you, STM.”
While Therrien emphasized that their members are hesitant to resort to a strike, they are prepared to take action if negotiations do not progress satisfactorily.
Although details regarding the timing and duration of a potential strike remain uncertain, ongoing negotiations with the STM are in progress, with additional meetings scheduled for the near future.
As tensions rise among the workers, signs of discontent have emerged, including the symbolic wearing of orange t-shirts, changes in bus parking practices, and other measures that have not impacted customers directly, according to the union leader.
