4 days ago
STM strike: What you need to know to get around Montreal
Société de transport de Montréal (STM) maintenance workers are expected to strike from June 9 to 17, potentially affecting traffic across the island.
The STM said school routes and shuttle buses for planned outings should operate as usual.
Between June 9 and 11, buses will only run during peak hours: from 6:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m., from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and from 11:15 p.m. to 1:15 a.m.
There will be no bus service outside these hours.
The Metro will only run from 6:30 a.m. to 9:38 a.m., between 2:45 p.m. and 5:48 p.m., and from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. on those days.
On June 12, 16 and July 1, the STM says it will operate at 50 per cent capacity.
Metro service will run at half the usual frequency, and roughly half of all bus trips will be cancelled.
There should be regular service between June 13 and 15 to serve the public during the Grand Prix weekend, before strike hours come back into effect June 16 and 17.
Student attendance 'essential'
School boards and centres have stated that they will not make exceptions for exams on strike days.
The English Montreal School Board (EMSB) sent a note to parents with the STM schedule, saying students must be there for all exams, and it is their responsibility to arrive on time.
The Centre de services scolaire de Montréal said the same.
'Parents will be reminded of this important time of the school year for student success,' it said in a statement. 'This strike coincides with the exam period. Student attendance and adherence to the scheduled timetable remain essential. It will therefore be important to plan for alternative transport and allow more time than usual for the journey.'
The president of the English Parents' Committee Association of Quebec, Katherine Korakakis, said parents are worried.
She said that when it comes to exams, some of which are worth 50 per cent of final grades, students cannot show up late or retake their tests.
Korakakis said parents are being left to mitigate the effects of the strike.
'Not everybody has a car, not everybody can leave work early or arrive late at work ... there's a lot at stake,' said Korakakis.
She said she hopes the STM and its workers come to an agreement soon and put an end to the strike.
Westmount High
In a statement sent to parents and students, and reviewed by CTV News, Westmount High School stated that it aims to accommodate the strike schedule, adding that it will hold all final exams in the morning next week to ensure that students who rely on public transit can attend.
The change will not apply to pre-scheduled science labs and French oral exams, which were scheduled by appointment.
The school is encouraging students to arrive early to avoid missing assignments and to make alternative transportation arrangements with their parents if necessary.
The library will remain open in the afternoon, as well as the gym.
Teachers will be advising students on afternoon tutorials.
'We recognize that this situation may cause inconvenience and appreciate your continued support and cooperation in helping our students successfully complete their exams,' the school notes.
With files from CTV News' Anastasia Dextrene.
