Montreal's mayor-elect, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, has issued a direct appeal to the unions of the Société de transport de Montréal (STM), asking them to suspend their ongoing strike measures while contract negotiations proceed. She made the plea during a press conference at city hall on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, stating that the disruption to Montrealers has reached an intolerable level.
A Plea for Good Faith and a Pause in Action
Martinez Ferrada expressed deep respect for STM workers, revealing that her own father was a bus driver for the transit authority. She emphasized her understanding of the essential role unions play. However, she firmly stated, "You can't paralyze a city," and called on both the STM management and the unions to accelerate the pace of negotiations. She explicitly invited the unions to "end the strike measures immediately and to not hold citizens hostage."
Provincial Intervention Looms as Strikes Continue
The labour conflict involves two separate strikes causing significant overlap and disruption. A union representing STM maintenance workers has been engaged in a month-long strike, which suspends service daily outside of three specific time windows. This strike is currently set to continue until November 28.
Compounding the issue, the union representing bus and métro operators has planned a two-day, complete shutdown of public transit starting November 15. This would mirror a similar weekend-long shutdown that occurred on November 1, bringing the city's transit system to a standstill.
In response to the crisis, Quebec Labour Minister Jean Boulet confirmed his intention to table a new bill. This legislation would empower the provincial government to order the striking unions back to work. While acknowledging this development, Mayor-Elect Martinez Ferrada said her preference is for a negotiated settlement, remarking that "agreements at the table will always be better than having something imposed on you."
Legal Challenges and the Path Forward
The STM has taken legal action to prevent the upcoming weekend shutdown. On Monday, the transit authority's lawyers argued before Quebec's labour tribunal that a complete halt to service would jeopardize the health and safety of many commuters. The operators' union countered that the strike presents no real danger and accused the STM of trying to broaden the legal definition of a health and safety risk. A ruling from the tribunal is expected in the coming days.
Despite having no direct power to end the strike, Martinez Ferrada has positioned its resolution as her top priority. She concluded her remarks by stating, "All I can do is be the voice of citizens who find this unbearable," underscoring her role as an advocate for Montrealers caught in the middle of the labour dispute.
