Here’s the STM schedule during the maintenance worker strike

In the second week of an STM strike by maintenance workers, talks don't seem to be going anywhere.

Bus and Metro services in Montreal are expected to be restricted this week due to strike action by Société de transport de Montréal (STM) maintenance workers.

According to the organization, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Metro service will only be available during the following times:

• Between 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.
• Between 2:45 p.m. and 5:45 p.m.
• Between 11:00 p.m. and the Metro’s usual closing time

Note that the specific closing times depend on the exact time the last Metro passes through its final station.

• READ MORE: STM warns of major service cuts as second maintenance strike looms

As for the buses, the STM notes that there will be regular service:

• Between 11:15 p.m. and 1:15 a.m.
• Between 6:15 a.m. and 9:15 a.m.
• Between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Most buses departing during these times should complete their routes to the terminal.

The strike action, with workers refusing to do any overtime, is set to end on Oct. 5.

For more information or to check your bus or Metro schedule, click here.

The STM notes that paratransit services will be maintained during the strike.

Not the first strike

The strike is due to ongoing labour negotiations between the STM and the union representing its 2,400 maintenance workers.

Monday, Quebec Labour Minister Jean Boulet argued the strike was penalizing “those who depend on public transit, forcing many citizens to urgently find alternative solutions.”

“Negotiations must intensify to minimize the impact on the public,” he said.

• READ MORE: Union to make a proposal to the employer in STM strike

This comes as the STM confirmed that it had submitted a counterproposal to the union, claiming that the union’s offer “did not offer any progress on some of the normative clauses acceptable to the company and demanded enormous concessions that would have had a significant financial impact."

“Our goal remains to reach an agreement as quickly as possible, but not at any cost. The STM is in an unprecedented financial situation and must modernize to reduce costs,” the organization said. “This requires greater flexibility in working conditions.”

Earlier this month, the STM insisted that the union’s demands would result in a $300 million increase in the transit agency’s budget over the next five years, or $60 million a year.

The head of public relations at the STM, Katherine Roux Groleau, argued that the number would exceed the organization’s financial framework and would force it to cut bus services by 10 per cent.

“I want to be clear: we are not going to be cutting bus services or even Metro services to fund monetary demands,” said Roux Groleau.

One of the main disputes is over salary, with maintenance workers seeking a 25 per cent raise over the next five years, and the STM offering 12.5 per cent.

• READ MORE: STM union rejects offer, transit disruptions set to begin Monday

In a news release, the union’s president, Bruno Jeannotte, criticized the STM’s stance.

“The STM wants to have its cake and eat it too,” he said. “They want to force us to make concessions without putting any money on the table. There’s money when it comes to giving more to senior management, but not for those who maintain the infrastructure.”

Negotiations have been dragging on for more than a year, with workers previously walking off the job in June.

Discussions are expected to continue this week.

Project Montreal calls to lower STM CEO’s salary

Meantime, mayoral candidate Luc Rabouin is calling to lower the salary for the head of Montreal’s transit agency.

If elected, the Projet Montreal candidate promises to cut the CEO’s salary by $100,000.

He said CEO Marie-Claude Léonard currently earns about $475,000 per year, an amount Rabouin calls out of line.

By comparison, the city’s top manager earns $375,000 per year.

“My vision is that it’s not acceptable that the director of the STM has a higher salary than the general director of the City of Montreal, which is a bigger organization,” said Rabouin on Monday.

The STM is defending the pay, saying the Léonard’s base salary is actually $391,000, which includes benefits, and hasn’t changed since 2022.

With files from The Canadian Press.