Montreal transit maintenance union suspends strike as new labour bill tabled

By Canadian Press on November 12, 2025.

MONTREAL — Montreal’s public transit network is gradually returning to normal after the union representing maintenance workers decided late Tuesday to suspend their strike.

The change comes as Labour Minister Jean Boulet tables legislation that would grant the provincial government greater power to intervene and end strikes.

Union president Bruno Jeannotte says the workers have lost an important lever with the tabling of the bill, but he says they aren’t giving up.

The strike by the 2,400 maintenance workers had limited bus and subway service in Montreal to peak hours and late evenings. It was originally scheduled to end Nov. 28.

Meanwhile, the union representing 4,500 bus drivers and subway operators has planned a two-day strike this weekend, following a one-day strike on Nov. 1 that halted all service.

Quebec’s labour tribunal has yet to rule on whether essential services will have to be maintained during the Nov. 15-16 strike.