Montreal's newly inaugurated mayor, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, expressed strong hope on Friday that a last-minute agreement could be reached to prevent a full-scale transit strike from paralyzing the city's bus and métro systems over the weekend.
Race Against the Clock
With a midnight deadline looming, Mayor Martinez Ferrada told reporters that intensive discussions were underway with both parties involved in the labour dispute. "My goal today, and we have until midnight, is to get an agreement," she stated, emphasizing that her primary focus was "making sure that Montrealers have transportation tomorrow."
The mayor, who was sworn into office just the day before, suggested that the approaching deadline could serve as a catalyst to intensify negotiations and break the deadlock.
Labour Tribunal's Controversial Ruling
The potential for a complete shutdown was confirmed earlier in the week when Quebec's labour tribunal ruled on Wednesday that the 48-hour strike by bus drivers, métro operators, and station agents could proceed. The tribunal determined the walkout would not endanger public safety, permitting only paratransit services to continue operating.
Mayor Martinez Ferrada voiced her confusion over this decision, pointing out that the same tribunal had previously ordered rush hour service to continue during a strike by métro maintenance workers. She questioned the inconsistency in rulings that now allow for a total system closure.
Balancing Rights and Public Service
While affirming her support for unions and the right to strike, the mayor argued that a new balance must be found for essential services like public transit in a major city like Montreal. "There are workers who won't have access to their jobs tomorrow, they'll be paying out of their pocket for a taxi, an Uber, and that's also not right," she stated.
She advocated for a solution that respects collective bargaining rights while ensuring "a minimum level of service" for other workers and citizens who depend on the transit network.
This weekend's threatened action follows a previous one-day shutdown on November 1, which marked the first STM strike in 38 years. The situation is further complicated by the recent suspension of a separate strike by maintenance workers that had already caused significant service disruptions earlier in the week.
If no agreement is reached, the strike is scheduled to begin at 4 a.m. on Saturday, November 15, and continue until 3:59 a.m. on Monday, November 17, leaving Montrealers without bus or métro service for the entire weekend.
