The STM, which employs 4,500 bus drivers and metro operators, has issued a strike notice for three days in November. The union workers are planning to strike on November 1, 8, and 9, seeking better work schedules and an end to unpaid work. This potential strike would mark the first time Montreal’s bus drivers and metro operators have gone on strike in almost 40 years.
Frédéric Therrien, president of the local Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) branch involved, expressed that negotiations have not yielded desired results despite efforts to find common ground. The union remains open to further negotiations but is prepared for additional strikes if needed.
The STM has stated its commitment to avoiding a strike and reaching an agreement with the union members. However, tensions persist as the union continues to push for improved working conditions.
Simultaneously, maintenance workers at STM are also gearing up for their third strike of the year, scheduled to commence on the night of October 31 and extend until November 28. This follows previous strikes in June and September.
With the situation escalating, STM’s director general, Marie-Claude Léonard, is scheduled to hold a press conference on Thursday at 11 a.m. to provide updates on the ongoing negotiations with the various unions.
