The tension escalated during Montreal’s ongoing public transit strike as a frustrated commuter smashed a glass door at Champ-de-Mars metro station on Friday morning.
The incident occurred at 10:15 a.m. following the scheduled end of metro service due to the rotating strike by STM maintenance workers.
CityNews, arriving on the scene shortly after, observed the shattered glass but did not witness the actual event.
According to a witness, a person arrived after the metro closure, found the doors locked, grew agitated, kicked the door with his heel, breaking it, and then left. The witness speculated that the individual might not have been aware of the metro’s closing time.
STM spokesperson Renaud Martel-Théorêt informed CityNews via email that a team of special constables had been sent to inspect the scene, and the damaged door would be boarded up by the infrastructure maintenance team.
The ongoing strike, involving 2,400 maintenance workers and initiated on Monday, has entered its third day. This labor action, scheduled to last until October 5, impacts bus and metro services on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
The workers are demanding wage hikes to match inflation rates, improvements in working conditions, and concerns regarding subcontracting.
During strike days, metro service operates in limited windows, and bus services are reduced while paratransit remains unaffected. STM advises commuters to check their website for updates and to expect delays.
Despite efforts to communicate strike schedules, some commuters are still confused or uninformed, especially during off-peak hours.
While acknowledging the public’s frustration during the strike, STM spokesperson Renaud Martel-Théorêt emphasized the organization’s disapproval of damage to transit property and warned that such actions could result in fines of up to $500, as per STM bylaw R-036.
