STM maintenance workers set to begin overtime strike in December

Montreal commuters could see disruptions soon, Société de transport de Montréal (STM) maintenance workers might skip extra hours starting next month. The union representing maintenance workers has announced that its members will refuse overtime from Dec. 9, 2025 to Jan. 11, 2026.

Paratransit operations will continue without interruption. Bus and metro services will continue to operate throughout the strike period.

“However, given the duration of the strike, some impacts may be observed on the service,” notably with fewer vehicles in service, the agency said in a message on its website on Thursday evening.

In a statement Friday, the union representing 2,400 maintenance workers, Syndicat du transport de Montréal-CSN, said the strike action during the holiday season was to put pressure on the STM to extend mediation. The union said that neither the STM nor the government has done enough to reach an agreement since the maintenance workers suspended their strike mid-November.

“Our strike would affect the STM administration and its deficient management style, which relies heavily on overtime,” said Bruno Jeannotte, president of the union.

He said that the STM has eliminated more than 200 maintenance positions and scrapped approximately 300 buses over the past two years and that the pressure was necessary to bring the management to the negotiation table.

“What we want is to have the means to effectively maintain the STM’s aging equipment and infrastructure. Outsourcing is certainly not the way to achieve this,” Jeannotte added.

An upcoming hearing before the Administrative Labour Tribunal will determine the minimum essential services the STM must maintain during the walkout.

“As we did with the drivers’ and administrative staff unions, I am convinced that we can find common ground and respect the established financial framework,” said Marie-Claude Léonard, STM’s CEO.

“I invite the union to prioritize discussions with 48 hours left in mediation, rather than once again threatening to strike and alarming the public, especially during the holiday season. We need to focus on finding a solution,” she added.

The threat of a strike comes as the labour reform law, Bill 89, is set to take effect on Nov. 30. Under the new law, Labour Minister Jean Boulet will have the powers to intervene to maintain essential services if strikes could affect the public well-being.

Currently, TAT uses public safety and health as a standard for service levels before authorizing a strike. This standard allowed the full transit shutdown with bus drivers and metro operators union joining maintenance workers, earlier in November as well as the almost month-long strike by maintenance workers that was called off midway.

More information will be shared once the tribunal issues its decision.