
Frustrated by stalled talks, STM maintenance workers consider strike action
Hot dogs, hamburgers, signs, flags, horns and whistles were on the menu outside the Youville workshops where the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) services and repairs its buses, as about 100 maintenance workers staged a protest Thursday afternoon over stalled contract talks.
According to Bruno Jeannotte, president of the Syndicat du transport de Montréal, which represents about 2,400 STM maintenance workers, the slow pace of negotiations could lead to stronger pressure tactics.
In an interview with The Canadian Press, Jeannotte expressed frustration with the employer's failure to table its bargaining priorities, despite nine days of mediated talks since the end of the last strike in mid-June.
'Our perception is that the employer is stalling at the bargaining table,' he said. 'Instead of identifying its priorities — which should have happened on day one or two of mediation — they're asking us for clarifications on various articles, which in the end might not even make it into their priority list. So we're really at a standstill right now.'
Waiting on Bill 89?
Jeannotte suspects the STM may be dragging its feet in hopes the Quebec government will rush through Bill 89, legislation titled An Act to Better Consider the Needs of the Population in the Event of a Strike or Lockout.
'We know the labour minister, Jean Boulet, is hinting that bills like Bill 89 could be fast-tracked. Is the employer leaning on the minister, thinking it will get government backing, and so sees no benefit to negotiating right now? I can't explain why the STM still hasn't presented its priorities.'
Bill 89 would limit strikes and expand the definition of essential services in Quebec. It also gives the labour minister new powers to intervene in labour disputes, including the ability to impose arbitration to end strikes or lockouts in certain cases.
Pressure tactics or a breakthrough
Maintenance workers already walked off the job from June 9 to 17. If bargaining remains stalled, Jeannotte warned the union may have to repeat that strategy.
'Will we be forced to strike again to really make an impact, to put pressure on the STM? We don't want it to come to that. But after nine full negotiating sessions without any priorities being tabled, we're concerned. If we can't reach an agreement in July or August, there will be pressure tactics come September.'
Salaries and outsourcing are at the heart of the dispute. On wages, management is offering an 11 per cent raise over five years — less than half of the union's demand of 25 per cent.
Outsourcing poses additional complications. The STM has said that due to chronic underfunding from Quebec, it is considering no longer doing certain maintenance work in-house, particularly in construction. But the union argues that outsourcing will cost more in the long run than using its own workers — assuming they stay.
'In the past, we were still ahead of the construction sector,' Jeannotte said. 'Now when we look at outside job postings, construction wages and conditions have improved. We need electricians, masons and bricklayers who work in the Metro at night. But the competition offers daytime work, weekends off, and overtime pay for weekend and night work. Meanwhile, the STM wants workers on regular pay for days, evenings, nights and weekends. That doesn't attract people.'
Thirteen years of night shifts
The Canadian Press spoke to one employee, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of employer retaliation, who works as a track maintenance worker in the Metro . His reality echoed Jeannotte's comments when asked why he was protesting under the sweltering sun.
'It's mostly about work-life balance,' he said. 'I've been with the STM for 13 years, working nights as a track maintenance worker, and I still don't see the day when I'll have a daytime position.'
The collective agreement expired Jan. 1, but negotiations began in March 2024. Mediation has been ongoing since the end of the strike on June 17.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on July 17, 2025.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CBC
6 hours ago
- CBC
Canada-U.S. trade deal hopes appear to fade after latest talks
Although U.S. President Donald Trump's Aug. 1 deadline is fast approaching, there is no sign of a breakthrough yet on a new Canada-U.S. trade deal after a week of talks in Washington, D.C. Ottawa continues to say it won't sign anything that isn't in Canada's best interest.


Global News
10 hours ago
- Global News
LeBlanc ‘encouraged' after latest U.S. talks as Trump tariff deadline looms
Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Thursday he's feeling 'encouraged' after meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and American lawmakers in Washington ahead of next week's tariff deadline. But LeBlanc also suggested that a new economic and security arrangement with the United States may not materialize in time for U.S. President Donald Trump's latest deadline of Aug. 1. 'Canadians expect us to take the time necessary to get the best deal we can in the interest of Canadian workers,' LeBlanc said outside the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington. 'So we are only going to be in a position to accept a deal when the prime minister decides that it is the best deal we can get in the interest of Canadian workers and the Canadian economy.' Trump has sent letters to multiple nations, including Canada, saying that if no deal is made by Aug. 1, he will impose high tariffs on imports to the United States. Story continues below advertisement While Trump's letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney threatened Canada with 35 per cent tariffs, the White House has said the levies will not be applied to imports that comply with the Canada-U.S-Mexico Agreement on trade. Canada is also being hit with Trump's tariffs on steel, aluminum and automobiles, and will be affected by copper duties that are also expected to kick in on Aug. 1. 5:23 WA state senator says Trump doesn't understand effects of trade war The Trump administration has announced only a handful of trade deal frameworks with other nations since the president first threatened his so-called 'Liberation Day' tariffs in April. Trump this week said his administration made deals with Japan and the Philippines, adding to previous agreements with Indonesia, Vietnam and the United Kingdom. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy While many details of the frameworks remain vague, all of them include some level of tariff – and it's not clear whether they would shield countries from Trump's plan to impose further sectoral duties on things like semiconductors and lumber. Story continues below advertisement LeBlanc said 'complex negotiations' are continuing between Canada and the United States and he will be returning to Washington next week. He described his meeting with Lutnick as productive and cordial. LeBlanc, who was joined in the meetings by Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman, also had face time with Republican senators Kevin Cramer, Roger Marshall, Shelley Moore Capito, Todd Young and Tim Scott. LeBlanc said they discussed border security and defence issues and the American lawmakers shared a 'desire to see more stability and predictability in the relationship with the United States.' 'My conversations have focused on how we share so many priorities of President Trump's administration that we should be able to figure out together a deal that's in the best interest of Canadian workers, and obviously they are going to do their side of the table in terms of the American economy and American workers,' he said. 1:55 'Only the best deal for Canada': Carney on negotiating tariffs, trade with Trump Federal officials have remained tight-lipped about what Trump's team has said it wants from Canada. Story continues below advertisement After this week's trade deal frameworks were announced, Trump boasted on social media that he would only consider lowering tariff rates if countries open their markets to the United States. The president also said Japan would invest $550 billion in the U.S. at his 'direction.' Trump said Thursday that Japan 'bought it down basically,' referring to the lower tariff rate. 'I would let other countries buy it down,' he said. 2:05 'Largest trade deal in history': Trump finalizes US trade pact with Japan, cuts tariffs to 15% When Trump first threatened Canada with tariffs, he claimed it was due to the cross-border flow of deadly fentanyl. Ottawa responded with a boosted border plan and named a 'fentanyl czar.' Ottawa walked back its digital services tax last month after Trump threatened to halt all trade talks. Carney last week announced measures to stop China from dumping steel in Canada. Story continues below advertisement Hillman said those efforts help Canada in its ongoing negotiations. 'In our discussion with the American senators this week, the American administration, the measures that Canada has taken on steel in particular… are some of the strongest in the world,' she said. 'And that has been recognized and very much appreciated. So we are making some positive progress.' Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski joined a bipartisan group of American lawmakers in Ottawa last week. The Republican said Thursday that 'we would all like to get to a better place with our trade relationship with Canada' but suggested it's not likely to happen before Aug. 1. Canada cannot be treated 'as yet one more country that we need to reconcile tariffs on' because of shared economic and national security issues, she said. 'I wish that I could say, 'It feels good,' that this is all going to be taken care of before the first of August, but I'm not sensing that,' she said.


CBC
10 hours ago
- CBC
What are the chances of a U.S. trade deal by Aug. 1?
As Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and U.S. Ambassador Kirsten Hillman meet in Washington with U.S. senators and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the Power Panel discusses Ottawa's shift to downplaying the chances of a trade deal by President Donald Trump's Aug. 1 deadline for increased tariffs.