Montreal and blue-collar workers enter conciliation to avert strike
City and union representing 6,000 blue-collar workers begin mediation talks as a seven-day strike looms during the UCI Road Cycling World Championships.
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Montreal and the union representing its 6,000 blue-collar workers are entering conciliation to try to avoid a strike that would coincide with the UCI Road Cycling World Championships at the end of the month.
The Syndicat des cols bleus regroupés de Montréal, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), filed a seven-day strike notice for September 22 to 28 from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m. Workers are scheduled to vote on the employer's final offer next Monday at Parc Jean-Drapeau. The conciliation process involves a neutral third party bringing both sides together during collective-agreement negotiations.
The union's contract with the city expired in December 2024, leaving negotiations in a months-long deadlock. No details on specific demands or the impact on city services if the strike proceeds have been made public. The city has not said what issues remain in dispute between the two parties.
What are the specific salary, benefits, or working-condition demands dividing the city and union?
Which city services would be affected if the strike goes ahead?
What was the outcome of previous blue-collar worker negotiations with the city?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
When is the proposed strike scheduled?
The strike is scheduled for September 22 to 28, 2026, from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m.
How many blue-collar workers does the union represent?
The Syndicat des cols bleus regroupés de Montréal represents 6,000 blue-collar workers in Montreal.
When will workers vote on the city's final offer?
Workers are scheduled to vote on Monday, September 14, 2026, at Parc Jean-Drapeau.
