3,000 Montreal city professionals strike indefinitely over pay and telework
The Syndicat des professionnelles et professionnels municipaux rejected the city's legal challenge after a tribunal found their strike legal; union president Anne Dorais said talks are the next step.
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Three thousand professionals across Montreal's 19 boroughs and central services began an indefinite strike at 12:01 a.m. Monday, after the city's attempt to have it declared illegal failed. An Administrative Labour Tribunal ruled Friday evening that the strike by the Syndicat des professionnelles et professionnels municipaux is legal, finding the union's list of essential services insufficient but accepting recommended changes the union has agreed to implement.
The work stoppage affects IT, libraries, communications, finance, planning and urban development, economic development, and physical activities and sports, among other services. The strike runs 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. Monday through Thursday, and 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. Friday through Monday, meaning evenings, nights and weekends are not being staffed.
Essential services are being maintained. The dispute centres on remuneration and teleworking terms. Union president Anne Dorais said the strike aims to pressure the administration, not the public, and called for the city to return to the negotiating table, as it had done with blue-collar workers. "Our main focus is to really get to the administration, not the public service," Dorais said Monday. "We would like to get a call from the City, a bit like what was done with the blue-collar workers, to see how we could get back to the negotiating table."
A mediation phase is set to begin. The city had not responded at publication time.
The facts
How many Montreal city professionals are on strike?
Three thousand professionals across Montreal's 19 boroughs and central services began an indefinite strike on Monday, October 19, 2026.
What services are affected by the strike?
The work stoppage affects IT, libraries, communications, finance, planning and urban development, economic development, and physical activities and sports, among other services.
What are the main issues in the dispute?
The dispute centres on remuneration and teleworking terms.
When did a tribunal rule on the strike's legality?
An Administrative Labour Tribunal ruled on Friday, October 16, 2026, that the strike by the Syndicat des professionnelles et professionnels municipaux is legal.
