Montreal public transit users brace for another strike     

Public transit users in Montreal are bracing for a strike which may last a month.

Outside of Lionel-Groulx Metro station, commuters are well aware of what’s coming.

“I don’t know how I’m going to get to work. I don’t know how I’m going to get to school,” Madeleine Colbeck-Salam said.

“It will be very difficult for us,” said another metro user.

Maintenance workers want to strike for nearly the whole month of November. Only essential services would be offered during rush hour.

Bus drivers and metro operators also plan to walk off the job on Nov. 1, 15 and 16.

Public transit advocates are concerned and frustrated.

“We would like to have 50 per cent of buses and metro,” Philippe Jacques, from Trajectoire Quebec, said. “Instead of having just rush hour and then no buses, no metro at all for like 5 hours.”

Jacques says traffic will likely worsen on the roads because people will have to use their cars.

“I have to change my meetings, I have to change my way of doing things because of the metro and I don’t think I’m alone,” Stephane Lariviere said.

A judge with the labour tribunal is expected to decide this week if the services being promised by the union will be enough.

The maintenance workers union tells CTV News it’s waiting for a decision before commenting further.

The union representing bus drivers and metro operators says it’s focused on negotiations and preparing for Saturday’s strike.

In a statement, Montreal’s transit agency, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) says: “we are doing everything we can to avoid this strike through intensive negotiations, but we cannot compromise our ability to pay and provide service.”

Some commuters are not happy they have to deal with a third strike.

“People calling the strike don’t have much humanity, do they?” Lariviere said. “Third time they strike, which is a bit much. Starting to lose patience.”

“I really do hope that they do get better wages and stuff, but it’s so inconvenient for so many people,” Colbeck-Salam said. “I have no idea what I’m going to do for my classes this next month.”

Quebec’s Labour Minister Jean Boulet says mediators are working to help the STM and its employees reach an agreement, but without a deal it could be a long month for a lot of bus and metro users.