STM maintenance workers union propose deal to end Montreal transit strike

The Syndicat du transport de Montréal –CSN announced that it plans to present a proposal to the employer on Saturday to end the strike affecting metro and bus services in the city. 

The 14-day strike launched last week by maintenance workers at the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) still includes service interruptions outside of rush hour on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

STM management had submitted a comprehensive offer regarding the organization of work, but it was rejected by the union representing 2,400 maintenance employees, according to STM Director General Marie-Claude Léonard.

CSN maintains that it will, in turn, present a proposal to the bargaining table on Saturday to resolve the majority of regulatory issues concerning working conditions. If the STM accepts it, the strike would be suspended, which would avoid service disruptions starting Monday, the union stated in a press release issued this morning.

The union’s offer, which will be submitted by the union on Saturday, “aims to bring the parties together to reach an agreement as quickly as possible. In addition, the union proposes to maintain the mediator’s presence in the case,” beyond the end of his mandate scheduled for Sept. 30, the document states.

“We hope the STM accepts our offer on regulatory issues. It has the opportunity to put an end to service disruptions for users. The ball is in the employer’s court,” said Bruno Jeannotte, president of the Syndicat du transport de Montréal–CSN.

An STM spokesman said it had “been made aware that the maintenance employees’ union was going to submit an offer,” in an email sent to The Canadian Press.

Renaud Martel-Théorêt says that the transport service will take “the time to analyze the latter.” He also recalled that many negotiations have taken place since Monday and that another meeting is scheduled for Saturday.

CSN, affiliated with the Fédération des employés et employés de services publics (FEESP–CSN) and the Conseil central du Montréal métropolitain (CCMM–CSN), brings together nearly 2,400 workers at the Société de transport de Montréal.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews