Montreal's STM strike starts Monday & here's how it will mess with your commute

Starting Monday, June 9, public transit in Montreal is going to look very different — and not in a good way.

As previously reported by MTL Blog, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) recently confirmed that a strike by maintenance workers will severely limit metro and bus service across the island for multiple days next week, with transit only running during three short time windows per day.

The walkout, which will affect thousands of riders, is scheduled for June 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, and 17. Service will be reduced outside of key rush hour periods, meaning anyone trying to get around mid-day — or in the evening — will likely be out of luck.

According to the STM, transit will operate during the following daily time blocks:

• Morning: 6:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. (Metro: 6:30 a.m. to 9:38 a.m.)
• Afternoon: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Metro: 2:45 p.m. to 5:48 p.m.)
• Late night: 11:15 p.m. to 1:15 a.m. (Metro: 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.)

The exception is Wednesday, June 12, when the schedule will be slightly extended:

• Morning: 6:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
• Afternoon: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Late night: 11:15 p.m. to 1:15 a.m.

Outside of those hours, bus and metro service will either be offline or operating at 50% capacity, depending on the route.

If you're a student or parent wondering about school commutes, there's some good news: the STM confirmed that dedicated school bus services will continue to operate, even outside of peak hours on June 9, 10, and 11, despite the strike.

And for those heading to the Canadian Grand Prix or its surrounding festivities, don't panic. Regular STM service will not be affected during the race weekend from June 13 to 15, thanks to a temporary agreement made to ensure crowds can get to and from Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

The upcoming strike was called by STM maintenance workers as part of an ongoing push for better working conditions. It comes on the heels of pressure tactics from other STM staff, including metro operators and bus drivers. Union reps say their members are fed up and ready to take action after negotiations stalled.

The STM says there will be no refunds for monthly or weekly passes that have already been validated. However, unused passes may still be refunded or rescheduled according to the ARTM's standard exchange and refund policy.

For the full schedule and updates, check STM's official strike info page.

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