STM maintenance workers vote 86% in favour of agreement

The maintenance workers of the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) have ratified the agreement reached through conciliation to renew their collective agreement, with 86 per cent voting in favour.

The union represents 2,400 maintenance workers at the STM. It is affiliated with the Fédération des employés(e)s de services publics, which is part of the CSN.

The conciliator’s proposal, which the union recommended to its members, came after four strikes: one in June 2025, another in September-October, another in November, and the last in December-January. These strikes took various forms: sometimes a traditional strike with essential services during peak hours, and sometimes a refusal to work overtime.

The negotiations were very arduous, lasting no less than two years. There was an initial conciliation phase, followed by mediation, and then a second conciliation phase, which led to this agreement on March 24.

“I am very pleased with the adoption of the agreement by the members,” said Marie-Claude Léonard, CEO of the STM. “We chose to prioritize a negotiated agreement, which is always preferable for preserving good working relationships. I commend the joint efforts of both parties to respect the financial framework through compromises on all sides.”

The dispute concerned the use of subcontracting and wages. Struggling financially, the STM is looking to reduce its costs. The union, for its part, is committed to protecting its members’ jobs and the public service that is public transit.

The STM reached agreements with the three other largest unions, which are local branches of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the Union of Professional and Office Employees (UPOE), both affiliated with the FTQ.

They represent 4,500 bus drivers and metro operators, 1,300 administrative and technical employees, and 800 professionals.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews, with files from CityNews