STM bus drivers, metro operators consider strike action

After maintenance workers, it is now the turn of STM bus drivers and metro operators to consider strike action.

The union that represents them, a local branch of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) affiliated with the FTQ, has just put up billboards announcing that it will “soon be on strike” at the Société de transport de Montréal.

When contacted, the union stated it had not yet issued a strike notice and that no date had been set for a possible strike.

The union was still at the negotiating table on Tuesday afternoon.

But tensions are clearly rising with the transit company, as this union, known for its moderation, has not gone on strike in nearly 40 years.

If a strike were to be called, it would be subject to essential services provisions. It would then be up to the union to submit a list of services to be maintained and then try to reach an agreement with the employer on this issue. However, whether or not there is agreement between the parties, the Administrative Labour Tribunal has the final say and must decide whether essential services would be sufficient to avoid harming the health and safety of the public. To do so, it takes into account the context and duration of a strike.

The CUPE local represents 4,500 bus drivers and metro operators. It is the largest and most strategic union at the STM, since its members drive the buses and operate the metro.

The STM carries 1.1 million passengers per day.

The maintenance workers’ union, affiliated with the CSN, has already gone on strike once, from June 9 to 17, and then a second time from September 22 to October 5.

On October 3, Labour Minister Jean Boulet appointed a team of four conciliators-mediators to try to break the deadlock with this union. He also asked both parties to stop negotiating through the media and to focus on mediation—which the parties have been doing since then.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews