Montreal blue-collar strike Wednesday: Essential services will be maintained

A city worker looks on as snow is dumped into one of the sewer dumps around the city as snow removal operations continue in Montreal on Feb. 14, 2018. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press)

Blue-collar workers of the City of Montreal are striking Feb. 4, but the municipal administration says essential public services and activities will be maintained.

Those services, as laid out by the Administrative Labour Tribunal, include:

• Snow removal
• Road repairs
• Arena inspections
• Cleaning of public spaces
• Traffic sign and street light repairs in case of accidents
• Operations related to water mains and sewers
• Drinking water production and wastewater treatment

However, that does not include household waste collection, selective collection, or composting, as the tribunal ruled it does not pose a risk to public health in the middle of winter.

The workers are holding a 24-hour strike, from 6 a.m. Wednesday to 5:59 a.m. Thursday.

The city is urging residents to check whether facilities are open before going on the day of the strike. More information is available on the city’s website and on the 311 phone line.

“Given the impact that the blue-collar strike could have on certain city operations, Montreal asks for the understanding of the public, who may see a change in services offered on February 4,” the city said in a news release.

The city worknegotiatings some 5,5000 employees, has been in negotiations to renew its collective agreement since February 2025. The collective agreement expired in December 2024.

The dispute mainly concerns wage increases.

The city is in negotiations with six employee groups for the renewal of their collective agreements.

With files from The Canadian Press