Latest news with #MichellePhuongThao
Time Out
16-06-2025
- Business
- Time Out
STM facing two class action lawsuits over Montreal strike disruptions
Grand Prix weekend brought Montreal's metro and bus strike to a temporary halt, but service hours are now disrupted again. With commuters left stranded and confused last week by final train departure times, a new development has surfaced. Will the Montreal transit strike resume after Grand Prix weekend? With two more days of the strike to go, two requests to authorize class action lawsuits have been filed against the STM on behalf of transit users holding monthly or weekly passes affected by the recent maintenance workers' strike. It's official: the STM is facing two class action bids over strike disruptions and unused passes. According to a report by CTV news, the first request, filed June 10 by lawyers for Michelle Phuong Thao, argues users were not properly warned of the June 9 strike and couldn't reorganize or request refunds, despite losing access to paid services. The STM has previously stated that it won't compensate for activated passes. A second request, filed June 11 by Simon Saint-Onge, echoes similar complaints, alleging the STM violated the Consumer Protection Act by cutting services while still collecting full fares. His claim also criticizes the STM for restoring full service during the Grand Prix while leaving daily commuters stranded, calling it a 'double standard'. Both suits demand partial refunds, damages for losses and stress, and recognition of the STM and union's shared responsibility.
CTV News
14-06-2025
- CTV News
Proposed class action targets STM over strike disruptions
Special constables from the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) lock the doors to the metro station as metro and buses discontinue service due to the strike by maintenance workers in Montreal on Monday, June 9, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi A request to authorize a class action lawsuit has been filed against the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) on behalf of transit riders who purchased a monthly or weekly pass. Lawyers for Michelle Phuong Thao have filed the proposed claim over the STM's maintenance workers' strike, which began last week and caused major disruptions for users across the island. The STM has previously said it would not reimburse or compensate activated or monthly passes. The lawsuit argues that when the strike was called on June 9, users were not given sufficient notice to reorganize or obtain a refund for their passes. 'In practice, many users were unable to benefit from paid services and were forced to find expensive or impractical alternatives for getting around,' the lawsuit states. 'However, these service interruptions, resulting from the strike, deprive consumers of the use of their monthly card, even though the STM continues to collect the full price, without offering compensation or an adequate reimbursement mechanism.' Additionally, the lawsuit claims the STM is engaging in a practice 'prohibited' under the Consumer Protection Act by failing to provide the services stipulated in the contract and making false or misleading representations regarding the availability and continuity of its services. The strike was paused during the Grand Prix weekend but will resume on Monday and continue until June 17. The Quebec government has named a mediator, with the first session scheduled for June 16. The legal action seeks a proportional refund for unused transit services, punitive damages for misleading consumers and failing to disclose the disruption. Quebec's Superior Court has not ruled on the request. In a written statement, the STM said it was aware of the request for authorization but declined to comment since the strike is ongoing. 'However, we would like to point out that the current strike is legal and that users were informed as soon as the strike notice was received on May 29.'
