With the looming transit strike by the 2,400 unionized STM maintenance workers in Montreal, commuters and businesses are bracing for challenges as they prepare to adapt to limited bus and metro services starting Saturday.
The strike is scheduled to last four weeks, with service restricted to morning and evening rush hours, and late at night.
“I got stuck downtown during the last strike and it happened to me two or three times that I was stuck downtown or near there,” said Oren J. Sendel, a student at Concordia University. “I had to wait it out or call a $40 Uber back to my house. I live near the West Island.”
“I had an appointment with treatments and I realized I came to locked doors and I couldn’t go to my appointments,” said Suzanne, a Montrealer.
“I understand why they are going on strike, but doing it every day of the week makes it difficult for us to organize ourselves over 28 days; that’s a lot,” said Delphine Herviaux, optician director at Greiche & scaff (Alexis Nihon).
“It affects a lot of us and I really hope they get a decision very soon,” said Justin Forte, a student at Dawson College.
One of the businesses already impacted by recent transit strikes is b.Cycle, which offers spin and barre classes at three downtown Montreal locations near metro stations.
“Based on what has happened in the past, they were striking for three days a week, and we would lose anywhere from 25 to 30 per cent of our revenue from one week to the next,” said Jessica Marchand, director of operations and marketing at b.Cycle. “We’d lose 20 per cent of our unique clients and the loss continues for the weeks after. And so knowing that it’s like every single day for a month long, I can’t even imagine the losses that we’re going to incur this next month.”
A survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, conducted in mid-October, found that close to 46 per cent of small and medium-sized businesses in Montreal say public transit strikes since June 2025 have led to financial losses.
“I think across the board, customer service industries, anything that has customer service like we do, they’re all impacted,” said Marchand. “Their staff can’t stay or their staff have to get replaced or their management team has to step in and work insanely long weeks. And so it’s just anything that’s customer service based that relies on people coming in, restaurants, cafes, et cetera, those restaurants immediately take an impact.”
If a deal isn’t reached between the maintenance workers’ union and the STM, the strike will continue daily until Nov. 28 at 10 p.m.
“Everyone is supportive of workers, like, you know, right to strike and obviously everyone should be paid what they’re worth. But at the same time, it really sucks,” said Oren J. Sendel, student at Concordia.
In addition to maintenance workers, the union representing bus drivers and metro operators also voted to strike on Nov. 1, 15 and 16.
Quebec’s labour tribunal (TAT) approved a schedule of limited service during the strike period Friday.
There will be no bus or metro service at all Saturday, Nov. 1. Starting Nov. 2, there will be service during commute hours and late night.
Metro
Metro will operate on a restricted schedule throughout the strike period.
- 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
- 2:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
- 11 p.m. until the usual closing time
Buses
Buses will operate regular services from:
- 6:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.
- 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- 11:15 p.m. to 1:15 a.m.
Bus service to schools are also subject to restricted times. STM says trips to some schools will be canceled. Consult the STM’s school service page to see which schools are affected.
Paratransit Service
Paratransit service is not affected by the strike and will operate at all times.
Transit riders are advised to check the real-time schedule of services available on the STM website for the most up-to-date information.
