At a general meeting Saturday, members of CUPE 1983 voted 99% in favour of pressure tactics up to and including an unlimited general strike. CUPE 1983 represents bus drivers, metro operators, station agents and paratransit drivers employed by the Société de transport de Montréal (STM).
This strike mandate comes after several months of negotiations. The parties are continuing talks, but STM management is demanding concessions on work schedules, work-life balance and job security. It is also refusing to raise wages to match current economic conditions, and continues to pursue plans to privatize the public paratransit services.
“It’s a decision we don’t take lightly, but our members have spoken with one voice. They are demanding to be treated with respect, to be able to do their jobs under decent working conditions and to be compensated in a way that reflects the essential role they play in the daily lives of Montrealers,” said CUPE 1983 president Frédéric Therrien.
The collective agreement, which covers about 4,500 members, expired on January 5, 2025. After several months of negotiations, members are denouncing the STM’s lack of concrete action to reach an agreement that satisfies their workers.
“Proposing puny increases over several years at a time, when the cost of living has been skyrocketing since the pandemic, is a blatant denial of the daily reality of workers,” said Dany Levasseur the union’s business agent.