Laval, October 20, 2021 – STL management finds the bus drivers’ union’s decision to announce a three-day strike on November 3, 15 and 26, 2021, unacceptable, while they are in their second session of mediated talks. Such a move, especially during a pandemic, will deprive customers of an essential, efficient and low-cost service, notably for front-line workers.

At the same time, the STL wants to reassure users that this essential service will be adequately maintained for customers and Laval residents. As such, the STL will take whatever means necessary to ensure that the drivers provide adequate essential service for customers, as required under the essential services act. Management will do everything in its power to promptly communicate details of bus service that will be in effect during the driver work stoppage.

Despite repeated threats to strike by the drivers’ union, the STL intends to carry on with the mediation process with the firm resolve to negotiate an agreement to the satisfaction of both parties. 

Considering its limited budget due to a significant drop in ridership related to the pandemic, the STL must respect its fiscal framework. Moreover, the STL recently signed new collective agreements with the unions of maintenance and office workers. These agreements were made with the same financial and operational parameters as those proposed for the renewal of the bus driver collective agreement.

Reviving public transit use by trying to restore ridership and the STL’s revenues to levels prior to the pandemic should be an opportunity to work with our drivers to improve the customer experience and encourage the public to choose public transit to fight against road congestion and climate change.