Montreal Braces for Major STM Strike Disruptions
Montreal is about to face some serious transportation challenges, and anyone planning to move around the city—especially on game night—needs to prepare. A strike by STM maintenance workers has been confirmed, and the impact on metro and bus service will be felt right away. The walkout is not just a short protest; it’s expected to stretch over the next two weeks, and service will be heavily reduced during that period.
Here’s what this means in practical terms. For starters, on Monday evening, right when the Canadiens are set to face the Pittsburgh Penguins in their preseason matchup at the Bell Centre, public transit service will be completely shut down between 5:45 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. That’s no metro, no buses, nothing. Fans heading to the game will have to find other ways to get downtown.
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The good news is that alternative options are available, though a little extra planning will be required. For those driving, several nearby parking lots around the Bell Centre will be open. Trains operated by exo are another convenient choice, since Lucien-L’Allier station sits right beside the arena and Central Station is only a short walk away. The new REM line also connects directly to Central Station, putting fans within easy reach of the venue.
Taxis and rideshares will still be running, and a designated pickup and drop-off zone has been set up at the corner of Saint-Antoine West and Sainte-Cecile, just south of the Bell Centre. BIXI bikes are also an option, with several stations located near the arena for those who don’t mind cycling in. To make things smoother, service agents and signs will be in place to guide people during the event.
But this strike goes beyond a single hockey night. Around 2,400 maintenance workers have walked off the job, demanding better pay and pushing back against what they say is the transit agency’s over-reliance on subcontracting. Negotiations have not gone smoothly. An offer was made by the STM late last week, but the union rejected it, claiming the agency refused to compromise on core issues. According to STM officials, the salary demands would cost roughly $300 million more than the agency can afford.
So, here we are. For the next two weeks, service is expected to be cut back, with metros and buses mostly limited to rush hour periods in the mornings, evenings, and late nights on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. That means anyone who relies on transit for daily routines—commuting to work, getting to class, or even attending events like Monday’s game—will need to adjust their plans.
Montreal has been through this before, with a similar work stoppage earlier in the summer that caused major headaches. Now, the pressure is back, and this round looks set to be just as disruptive. For now, all anyone can do is plan ahead, expect delays, and keep checking for STM service updates while this labor dispute plays out.
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