Montreal business leaders call on Quebec government to end STM strike

A coalition of Montreal business associations is calling on the Quebec government to end the month-long public transit strike by prematurely applying a strike-busting law. 

Bill 89 allows the government to maintain services that it considers important to the well-being of the population in the event of a strike or a lockout. 

It is facing several legal challenges, with critics arguing that the legislation violates the constitutional right to strike. 

The law comes into force on Nov. 30, two days after the public transit strike is expected to end. 

Maintenance workers with the Syndicat du Transport de Montréal (STM) launched their strike on Oct. 31.  

In a statement published on Wednesday, the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal (CCMM), the Association des restaurateurs du Québec, the Conseil des Arts, the Fédération des Chambres de commerce du Québec and Conseil du patronat du Québec (CPQ) say fast-tracking the implementation of the law is a “pragmatic and necessary measure.”  

“Every day that public transit is paralyzed, economic activity weakens, many workers, particularly those with atypical schedules, are prevented from getting to work, and the health and safety of the population is jeopardized,” Michelle LLambias Meunier, president of the CPQ, said in a statement.

“The most vulnerable are being held hostage by this critical situation.”

Isbaelle Dessureault, CEO of the CCMM, warned that the ongoing strike could erode public sympathy for STM workers.

“We are not in a situation, right now, like we were with the nurses or the education sector, where there needs to be what we call a redressment of salaries,” Dessureault said in an interview. 

“These people, they have a decent wage in comparison with other types of similar jobs and at a time where, geopolitically speaking, we’re many that we don’t know if we’re going to have a job the next day.”  

She said the government must use the tools at its disposal and act now. 

Quebec Labour Minister Jean Boulet told reporters at the National Assembly Wednesday morning that “nothing can be ruled out at this stage” and he’s assessing his options. 

He said that to facilitate talks, he assigned four mediators to assist the maintenance workers and two mediators to work with bus drivers and Metro operators.