CUPE 1983, the union representing the 4,500-bus drivers, metro operators, station agents and paratransit drivers at the Société de transport de Montréal, still believes in negotiating.
“We are working tirelessly to reach an agreement, and we’re not far off,” said Frédéric Therrien, president of the local. “There’s still time before Saturday. The ball is now in the STM’s court. The strike planned for this Saturday and Sunday can still be avoided.”
It’s important to remember that, historically, negotiations between CUPE and the STM have always ended with a tentative agreement being reached. Conflicts are rare. Therefore, if the strike takes place this weekend, it will be a historic one, as these STM workers will have had only one strike day in nearly 40 years.
Chronic underfunding of public transit
Since coming to power, Coalition Avenir Québec has systematically underfunded public transit, putting transit companies in an untenable position.
“François Legault and Jonatan Julien hold all the cards to break this deadlock,” said Magali Picard, president of the Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec. “I make the same plea to the new mayor of Montréal, Soraya Martinez Ferrada. Take the small step needed to reach an agreement that will ensure the future of public transit in Quebec’s largest city.”