Montreal residents are preparing for a weekend of significant travel disruption as a complete transit strike coincides with dangerous winter weather conditions. The city's bus and métro services will halt entirely for 48 hours starting Saturday morning.
Strike Details and Political Context
Quebec's labour tribunal has authorized a full-scale strike affecting all bus drivers, métro operators, and station agents beginning at 4 a.m. on Saturday. The work stoppage will continue until Monday morning, with bus service resuming at 4 a.m. and métro service at 5:30 a.m.
Premier François Legault has explicitly ruled out government intervention to prevent the strike, leaving ongoing mediation between the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) and the 4,500-member union as the only potential solution. This marks the second complete network shutdown this month, following a one-day strike on November 1.
Weather Complications Compound Travel Woes
The transit shutdown coincides with challenging weather conditions forecasted by Environment Canada. Saturday will bring a wind chill of minus-6 degrees Celsius in the morning, followed by afternoon snow and freezing rain later in the day.
The freezing rain could deposit up to 10 millimeters of ice across surfaces, creating hazardous conditions for pedestrians and drivers alike. A special weather statement covers Greater Montreal, the Laurentians, Lanaudière, and Lower Richelieu regions. The weekend is expected to conclude with Sunday evening flurries.
Alternative Transportation Options
Despite the complete shutdown of regular transit services, Montrealers have several alternatives available. Paratransit service for people with disabilities or mobility issues will continue operating normally throughout the strike period.
Other options include taxis, car-sharing services like Communauto and Léo, the ridesharing.com carpooling platform, and ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Lyft. Bixi bike-sharing will maintain more stations than usual during its seasonal transition to accommodate strike-affected users, though seasonal subscriptions expire at midnight Saturday.
Advocates have expressed particular concern for vulnerable populations, noting that seniors and unhoused individuals will be disproportionately affected as many cannot afford alternative transportation options. Those walking will face additional challenges navigating icy streets and sidewalks.
The union's strike action stems from complaints about increasingly difficult working conditions, including unpaid breaks and split shifts that leave operators without pay for hours between assignments.
