Montrealers left with partial transit as STM maintenance workers’ strike continues for Day 2

With STM bus drivers and metro operators back to work on Sunday, it means the end of the full shutdown of services – but the transit nightmare isn’t over yet as the maintenance worker’s strike is still the midst of a full-fledged month-long strike mandate – leaving Montrealers only with access to partial metro and bus operations as service is restricted to morning and evening rush hours, and late at night.

“We had to leave a little earlier in the morning so we could get there and now we just have to waste time until we can get back on the train rather than going home when we want to,” said one Montrealer.

Another Montrealer added, “It’s horrible to be honest with you, last strike that they had, I had to bike home and I worked in Ville St-Laurent, so that was maybe an hour and half bike ride, it was bad, it was awful honestly. I cried when I got home.”

For now, things are looking up as CUPE, the union representing more than 4,500 bus drivers and metro operators, revealed during their press conference Saturday morning that they’re open to mediation with STM management next week. 

The STM responded in a written statement to CityNews, confirming they are on board as well, saying, “We understand how disruptive strikes can be to our customers’ daily lives. That’s why we do everything we can to avoid them through intensive negotiation efforts.”

Adding, “In the case of the union representing drivers, operators, and station agents, a mediator was recently appointed and will join the negotiations in the coming days. We hope this will help facilitate discussions and lead to an agreement.”

CUPE says it’s open to mediation but warns that if no deal is reached in the next few weeks on key demands — including fair wage increases, better working hours, and an end to unpaid time — a second strike will go ahead on Nov. 15 and 16.

“Yesterday was very tough for me because right now I live in Longueuil, I was going back to Longueuil and I didn’t have a bus to go, that’s why I’m still here,” said one Montrealer. “My reaction to that, I’m just going to give them the go ahead because they have the right, they have the right. When you are fighting for something you know what you are fighting for.”

Another Montrealer said, “I totally support the strike but at the same time it would be important to communicate because so many Montrealers rely on it. Maybe do like a rotation of workers so some workers are on strike but they still do full days of scheduling.

Meanwhile, the CSN union representing nearly 2,400 STM maintenance workers will hold a press conference on Monday to update on negotiations. Unless a deal is reached, they say the strike will continue — meaning Montrealers could face a full month of limited service and two more complete shutdowns in the coming weeks.

Strike Schedule

• Metro
  • Metro will operate on a restricted schedule throughout the strike period:
  • 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
  • 2:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
  • 11 p.m. until the usual closing time

Note: No metro service on Saturday (Nov. 1) after last metro on Friday (Oct. 31) night.

• Buses
  • Buses will operate regular services from:
  • 6:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.
  • 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  • 11:15 p.m. to 1:15 a.m.

Bus service to schools are also subject to restricted times. STM says trips to some schools will be canceled. Consult the STM’s school service page to see which schools are affected.

Paratransit Service

• Paratransit service is not affected by the strike and will operate at all times.

Transit riders are advised to check the real-time schedule of services available on the STM website for the most up-to-date information.