Montreal public transit to shut down Saturday as bus and Metro drivers go on strike
CBC
Unless a deal is reached, Montreal’s public transit system will be halted on Saturday when the union representing drivers, Metro operators and station agents goes on strike for 24 hours.
The strike will start at 4 a.m. and end just before 4 a.m. on Sunday. During that time, no buses or Metro trains will run.
Quebec's labour tribunal approved the drivers' strike in a ruling that was published Thursday on the eve of a separate, month-long strike by the maintenance workers’ union, which is slated to start Friday at 10 p.m.
According to the ruling, Saturday's strike poses no danger to health and safety and none of the agencies consulted — police, fire, ambulatory, etc. — requested a higher level of service.
The airport authority, Aéroports de Montréal (ADM), requested that the 747 bus line be maintained during the 24-hour strike, but that request was rejected.
Adapted transport services will be maintained in their entirety, and the union has agreed to provide the necessary personnel in case of exceptional or unforeseen situations that could pose a danger to public health or safety.
The drivers’ union, the Syndicat des chauffeurs, opérateurs et employés des services connexes (SCFP 1983), has also filed a strike notice that could affect bus and Metro service on Nov. 15 and 16. Those requests have not been approved yet.
The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) is holding a news conference Friday morning at 9 a.m. to update the public about the looming strikes.
Starting at 10 p.m. Friday, bus and Metro services will also be reduced to rush hour throughout the majority of November. There will be no exception made for Sunday’s municipal election.
The union, the Syndicat du transport de Montréal, which represents 2,400 maintenance employees at the STM, has already gone on strike twice so far this year.
This third strike will be the longest yet. Quebec's labour tribunal officially authorized the union to strike for the entire four weeks and said only rush-hour service would be kept during that entire period, but paratransit services will be fully maintained.
The only thing that could stop the strike is if the STM and union strike a deal before the 10 p.m. deadline.
If the strike goes forward, buses will run normally during the strike from 6:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. and again from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Night bus service will run from 11:15 p.m. to 1:15 a.m.
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