Montreal transit strike: STM, union disagree on holiday service

The STM and the maintenance workers’ union can’t agree on which essential services to maintain during the union’s fourth strike, particularly when it comes to holidays on Dec. 25 and 26 and Jan. 1 and 2, as well as the winter storm clauses.

The union representing 2,400 maintenance workers, affiliated with the CSN, announced its fourth strike, scheduled to take place from Dec. 11 to Jan. 11.

The strike will take the form of a refusal to work overtime.

The Administrative Labour Tribunal began hearing the parties on Thursday morning. A total of 10 witnesses are set to be heard: seven summoned by the union and three by the STM. By early Thursday afternoon, the first witness had not yet finished.

The STM believes that the list of essential services provided by the union is insufficient in the event of a winter storm.

“We can’t wait for the ice to actually accumulate before taking action,” said the transit company’s lawyer, Camille Dulude.

The issue of maintenance employees available to work on the Dec. 25 and 26 holidays, as well as Jan. 1 and 2, is also part of the dispute between the parties.

The union argues that on holidays in general, the STM provides weekend service, which is a significant reduction in metro and bus service.

- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Dec. 4, 2025.