STM facing two class action bids 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, filed on June 10, 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.”

Second class action authorization request filed

A second request for authorization to launch a class action was filed on June 11 by a lawyer representing Simon Saint-Onge, who raises similar grievances against the STM, including that the transit agency violated the Consumer Protection Act.

“Despite an implicit contract between the STM and its customers, the frequency of service dropped dramatically, making access to transportation outside rush hour virtually impossible and forcing thousands of Montrealers to turn to costly solutions such as taxis or Uber,” states a press release issued by Saint-Onge’s lawyer Sidney Bitton.

In addition to the alleged breach of contract, Saint-Onge’s legal action claims that the STM failed to provide service in accordance with the schedules in effect at the time of the sale of passes.

“This is double standards at its worst. Service is suspended for the Montreal public but restored for wealthy F1 visitors,” the press release states.

“While we protect the sacrosanct Grand Prix—an ostentatious display of wealth—we despise our own workers who struggle to get to their jobs.”

The second lawsuit seeks a partial refund for monthly pass holders, as well as compensation determined individually by each user, additional damages for stress, inconvenience and losses suffered, and recognition of the joint liability of the STM and the union for the alleged breaches.