Montreal blue-collar strike: Essential services deemed sufficient

City workers collect trash from a lawn in Montreal on March 19, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

The Administrative Labour Tribunal has approved the list of essential services agreed upon by the employer and the union ahead of a planned three-day strike by City of Montreal’s blue-collar workers in mid-April.

The blue-collar strike is scheduled to take place from 6 a.m. on April 15 to 6 a.m. on April 18.

The Tribunal ruled that the essential services agreed upon by both parties were sufficient to avoid endangering public health or safety.

For example, usual household waste collection crews will be maintained on April 15, for the Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough. The Tribunal noted that waste collection is primarily carried out by subcontractors in other boroughs.

Several other services will, however, be affected by the strike, with reduced staffing, on-call, or “as needed.”

- By Lia Lévesque

- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on April 8, 2026.