October 21, 2025
Montreal’s STM public transit system to go on strike for the third time this year
For the third time this year, the STM, Montreal’s public transit system, will be going on strike – and commuters are not very happy about it.
Their chagrin only amplified by the fact this third strike is set to last a full calendar month, at a time of year where temperatures drop and heavy rainfall is not uncommon. And to further rub salt into wounds; the STM expects its clientele to continue to pay full price for a fraction of its promised service.
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An estimated 2400 maintenance workers are walking off the job as talks between their union and the STM have stalled. As a result, a month-long reduction of service to bus and metro lines is expected, and follows two earlier strikes this year — one in June and another that ran from September 22nd to October 5th.
The STM hasn’t yet published an official schedule for November, but the union warns that commuters should again expect service slowdowns, delays, and possible interruptions across the entire network, punishing the citizens of Montreal again, especially the elderly and those of reduced mobility. The STM still expects people to pay full price for its greatly reduced service, however.
“If we want to maintain good working conditions, we have no choice but to prepare once again to go on strike,” said Bruno Jeannotte, president of the Syndicat du transport de Montréal-CSN. “We would have liked to avoid it, and we did everything we could to do so.”
The strike is expected to start overnight from October 31st to November 1st and end on November 28th. Leaving commuters who will still be expected to pay full price for their monthly bus and train passes, to find alternate routes around the island. Something that has a left a bitter taste in the mouths of several passengers.
“It’s a disgrace” said Agnes, who relies on the 57 bus and the green metro line to get about town. “At my age, I shouldn’t have to worry about not having a way home when I go out. I paid for the bus my whole life, and this is what they do. It’s a disgrace”.
People outside the Charlevoix metro station in Point Saint-Charles shared the same sentiments.
“They still want me to pay full price for my bus pass though, right!” said Holly, a student of nearby Dawson college. When asked if the bus and metro system running only during rush hour would effect her studies, Holly replied “Of course! I live off-island so now I have this added stress to worry about. It’s not like I can ride a stupid bicycle all the way home, is it!”.
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Others were left wondering why they should have to pay at all for public transit during this time. One commuter in particular, Serge Pilon of Verdun, questioned why he should have to pay and referenced the reduced bus service during the Covid-19 pandemic which saw the STM system stop asking for fees to ride their network.
“If free buses were good then, they should be good now,” said Pilon. “We didn’t ask for any of this crap”.
