Quebec names mediator as Montreal public transit strike in third day
Quebec's labour minister says he has named a mediator in a labour dispute between Montreal's public transit authority and its maintenance workers that has limited bus and metro service across the city.
About 2,400 maintenance workers have been on strike since Monday after more than a year of negotiating. As a result, buses and metros are only operating during morning and afternoon rush hours and late at night.
Labour Minister Jean Boulet said Wednesday on social media that the mediator will be tasked with easing tensions between both sides and restoring a dialogue 'conducive to negotiations.'
One day earlier, he urged the union and the transit authority to jointly seek mediation to bring them closer to a deal.
In a news release on Wednesday, the transit authority — Société de transport de Montréal — said negotiations with the union extended late into the prior night before the two sides agreed on the conditions governing mediation. Both sides filed a joint application for mediation to the Labour Department.
'Meetings with the union continue and are still scheduled several times a week,' the transit authority said.
The mediation deal is a 'step in the right direction,' said Marie-Claude Léonard, general director of the agency. But she said, 'we are not one meeting away from reaching a solution.' The agency noted it had proposed mediation as early as May 29.
Bruno Jeannotte, president of the maintenance workers union, said in an e-mailed statement that mediation will hopefully accelerate negotiations 'to quickly resolve the issues that separate us.'
As part of an agreement reached with Quebec's labour tribunal, regular service will be maintained from Friday to Sunday for the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, but operations will be restricted on other days until the strike is set to end on June 17.
Earlier this week, Jeannotte also said his team is in talks with the union representing bus and subway drivers — who have also voted for a strike mandate — on ways to increase pressure on the transit authority.
In a post on the X platform, Mayor Valérie Plante thanked Boulet for getting involved. 'This is an important step that will help move things forward,' Plante wrote. 'Our wish is clear: that the dialogue accelerates to reach an agreement.'
She also sympathized with Montrealers who've been affected by the service cuts.
'The situation is difficult and complex for thousands of us. Public transit is essential and must resume quickly,' Plante said.
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