Union accuses Montreal transit authority of waging a ‘scare campaign’ to justify arbitration

A Societe de transport de Montreal (STM) hybrid bus passes beneath a charger for an electric bus in Montreal, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)

As the fourth strike by Montreal public transit (STM) maintenance workers enters its second day, the union is accusing the transit authority of waging a “scare campaign” targeting users to justify its future request for arbitration.

During a news conference on Friday, union president Bruno Jeannotte argued the Société de transport de Montréal was seeking to spread “panic” with its statistics on the number of missing buses as the month-long strike continues.

The day before, the STM announced that 255 buses would be missing during the week of Jan. 4, and as many as 265 during the week of Jan. 11, when the strike will end.

The STM also indicated that these missing buses would be added to the staff shortages due to the holiday season, which would reduce bus service and affect users.

The union president maintains that the STM is seeking to justify its eventual request for arbitration to the Minister of Labour in order to settle the matter on behalf of the parties.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Dec. 12, 2025.