Montreal Transit Strike Sparks Citywide Disruption Amid Grand Prix Buzz
Montreal is once again caught in the grip of a transit strike. STM maintenance workers have resumed their strike action for another two days, extending an ongoing labour dispute that’s been unfolding for more than a year. And if you live in or around Montreal—or are trying to get anywhere in the city—you’re definitely feeling the impact.
Let’s unpack what’s happening.
As of Monday, approximately 2,400 STM maintenance workers have walked off the job again, significantly cutting down metro and bus services across the city. For now, service is running at only about 50% of its usual levels, limited mostly to rush hours in the morning and evening, with some late-night operations still in place. The rest of the day? Limited to none. It’s a major disruption for daily commuters, students, and especially for workers in the service and retail sectors who rely on reliable transit to get to and from their jobs.
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Interestingly, this strike had been temporarily paused just last weekend—because of the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix. That’s right. Montreal saw a brief return to full metro and bus service Friday through Sunday to accommodate the surge of international visitors and tourists in town for the race. The move was greenlit by Quebec’s labour tribunal specifically for the Grand Prix. It was a short reprieve, but now the disruptions are back.
This is all happening against a backdrop of stalled contract negotiations between the STM and the maintenance workers' union. The union, led by president Bruno Jeannotte, says talks have broken down over issues like subcontracting and night shift scheduling. The frustration is palpable—and the union has warned that without meaningful progress, things could escalate even further.
There’s some hope, though: the first formal mediation session is set for today, with the assigned mediator expected to meet separately with both parties. Whether that leads to any breakthrough remains to be seen.
But one thing is clear—the city’s transportation backbone is under serious strain, and unless an agreement is reached soon, Montrealers may have to brace for more service disruptions in the days and weeks ahead. The strike officially ends June 17, but that deadline might not mean the end of the unrest.
For now, commuters continue to navigate delays, closures, and packed vehicles, all while hoping that both sides can finally meet in the middle.
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