This morning, arriving at a ballet class at Les Grands Ballets’ GB studios a few minutes before 10am, I noticed that everyone was not late, but incredibly early.
A little embarrassed at being the last to arrive, I wondered when Montrealers had become so punctual. Then I remembered that the Société des Transports de Montréal (STM) was on strike. And that everyone had arrived early because the metro only runs from 6:30 to 9:30 in the morning.
There’s a lot of information and rumors circulating in Montreal right now about the strike going on during the month of November, and here’s what we know…
Practical strike info for getting around Montreal this month
This is the third strike called by the Montreal public transit (bus, metro) maintenance workers’ union this year – the first in June 2025, then in September 2025. This third strike will last 28 days, from October 31 to November 28 (inclusive).
Subways and buses are in operation during rush hours.
Metro schedule :
6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
2:45pm to 5:45pm
11pm to close
Bus timetable :
until 1:15 a.m.
from 6.15am to 9.15am
from 3pm to 6pm
from 11:15pm
All buses departing during these times will complete their journey to the terminus.
New developments
Montreal’s new mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada – freshly elected in the November 2 election – and STM management have both expressed in recent days their intention to reach an agreement with the unions before November 15.
If the metro and bus drivers and their union fail to reach an agreement before that date, Montreal’s transport system could come to a complete standstill next weekend, November 15 and 16. The scenario of a resolution and agreement between the drivers’ union and the STM is described by many as “realistic” – so it’s rather positive.
As for the strike initiated by the maintenance workers’ union – which is expected to last until November 28 – predictions are less optimistic, and we should get used to arriving a little earlier or a little later for our appointments and dance classes until the end of the month.
We’ll continue to pass on what we know during this strike, and in the meantime, we wish all Montrealers the best of luck!