Bus drivers, metro operators, and station agents of the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) have secured a new employment contract following the approval of a tentative agreement with their employer.
Union members endorsed the tentative agreement in two votes conducted on Sunday.
The approved deal entails a significant wage increase of 17.5% over the span of five years—comprising increments of 2.5% in 2025, 4.5% in 2026, 3.25% in 2027 and 2028, and 4% in 2029. Additionally, workers will receive a one-time payment equivalent to 2.5% for the year 2025.
The union representing the 4,500 employees is a local arm of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), affiliated with the FTQ, and is the largest among the six unions at the STM.
Following a one-day strike on November 1, which marked their first strike in nearly four decades, union members were on the brink of striking again on November 15 and 16. However, a last-minute tentative agreement was reached on the preceding Friday to renew the collective agreement.
The primary issues at the heart of the disagreement were wages, work schedules, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Being the foremost union to reach a tentative agreement with the STM and the largest, it often sets the benchmark for others in terms of wage negotiations.
The second union to reach a tentative agreement, representing 1,300 administrative and technical employees—also a CUPE local—has already ratified its agreement with a 75% majority.
STM CEO Marie-Claude Léonard has stressed the importance of adhering to the financial framework. Consequently, in order to secure more substantial wage increases, union members had to seek alternative avenues within their working conditions to finance them.
Furthermore, Léonard highlighted that the agreement with the bus drivers involved compromises from all sides and maintains financial prudence.
Among the additional benefits outlined by the union are the establishment of a cumulative time bank, increased break time on shorter routes, compensation for extended shifts, and enhanced flexibility for maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
The STM is currently grappling with financial challenges, with the need to generate savings of $56 million by 2026, as stated by Léonard.
In a statement, union president Frédéric Therrien expressed satisfaction with the negotiation outcomes but criticized the insufficient funding for public transit in Quebec, emphasizing the need for prioritizing public transportation to avoid recurring issues.
Therrien also emphasized the union’s commitment to combatting the privatization of the STM’s paratransit service.
