Montreal’s public transit is shut down all day Saturday, except adapted transit, and reduced service will continue for the next 27 days due to two separate strikes, barring a last-minute deal.
The union representing drivers, Metro operators and station agents is on a 24-hour strike and is expected to provide an update on negotiations at 11 a.m.
Maintenance workers with the Syndicat du Transport de Montréal also launched their month-long strike at 10 p.m. Friday night.
Over the duration of that strike, stretching until Nov. 28, adapted transit will operate as usual while bus and Metro service will be reduced seven days a week and confined to the following hours to meet rush-hour needs:
Bus:
- from 6:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.
- from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- from 11:15 p.m. to 1:15 a.m.
Most buses departing before the scheduled end of service will complete their trips, says the STM.
Metro:
- from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
- from 2:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
- from 11 p.m. until the Metro’s usual closing time.
Metro stations will close gradually as the last train passes, says the STM.
The maintenance workers’ strike will include municipal election day, Sunday. When deciding on the scope of the two strikes, Quebec’s labour tribunal said its role was not to weigh citizens’ right to vote against workers’ right to strike.
It also found that halting all public transit for 24 hours this weekend does not threaten the public’s health and safety.
Public Transit advocacy group Trajectoire Québec says the tribunal’s considerations are too narrow and that it takes for granted that everyone can afford — or is fit enough — to get around with the “very few” alternatives that exist, its spokesperson Philippe Jacques says.
“We don’t have the same interpretation as them at all,” he said.
WATCH | Montrealers give their thoughts on the strike:
Montreal transit users react to beginning of month-long strike
Trajectoire Québec, an organization that promotes public transportation throughout the province, says a month-long transit strike in Montreal that begins with a full day without any bus or Metro service will be a “nightmare” for some who rely on public transit. Refunds and other ways around
Monthly STM passes can be refunded if the request is made before the first of the month, the public transit authority has indicated on its website. Once a monthly or weekly pass is validated, the regional public transit authority in charge of the STM’s fees will not issue refunds or rebates.
Alternative ways of getting around Montreal include Bixis, two car-sharing apps and taxis, among others.
Bixi Montréal has indicated it will enhance its service until Nov. 28 and set-up drop-off stations in high traffic areas. Seasonal memberships will end on Nov. 15, after which people will be able to rent bikes only in specific areas covered by the Bixi year-round initiative.
Bixi Montréal will boost service until Nov. 28 and add drop-off stations. Seasonal memberships end Nov. 15. After that, rentals are limited to year-round areas. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)
Communauto says it will try to maximize the availability of its 4,500 vehicles during the strike. It suggests people take advantage of carpooling groups to co-ordinate rides with other users. Earlier this year, another car-sharing service, Leo Carshare, entered the Montreal market.
In a statement, Uber says it’s encouraging Montrealers to share their trips with others. The company says it’s capping dynamic pricing during the strike.
The halt in bus and metro service also coincides with major sporting events in the city including playoff games for the Montreal Roses and the Montreal Alouettes Saturday afternoon, as well as games for the Laval Rocket and the Habs in the evening.
The Laval Roses who are facing off against AFC Toronto in semi-final action at Stade Boréale in Laval will have free shuttles to ferry fans from the Cartier Metro Station to the stadium, in addition to two buses that will depart from different parts of the city.
2 STM unions on strike
Saturday marks the first time in 38 years that the union representing bus drivers, Metro operators and station agents has gone on strike.
The Syndicat des chauffeurs, opérateurs et employés des services connexes (SCFP 1983) is also planning strikes for November 15 and 16 though the labour tribunal has yet to hear their strike plan for those days.
At the negotiation table, the union has been asking for better schedules and the end of unpaid work.
Bus drivers wear orange shirts in solidarity with the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) maintenance workers in Montreal back in June. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)
The maintenance workers union, for its part, has already gone on strike twice this year: once in June for 9 days and again in September for 14 days.
Remaining sticking points include wage increases and outsourcing. The STM said it operates on a fixed budget and can’t afford to pay what the maintenance workers’ union is asking for.
Meanwhile, the union has argued that outsourcing is only a short-term cost-saving measure and that subcontracting companies ultimately raise their rates or prices.