Maintenance workers at Montreal's public transit agency have initiated an overtime strike amidst an ongoing labor dispute, marking another chapter in a series of job actions by these employees. The strike commenced at midnight and is set to last until January 11, 2026. This action involves approximately 2,400 maintenance workers who are protesting against their working conditions and negotiations surrounding their contracts.

Marie-Claude Léonard, the CEO of Montreal's public transit agency, has indicated that while metro operations and paratransit services are likely to remain on schedule despite the strike, concerns are growing regarding the potential impact on bus services. If maintenance continues to lag due to the absence of overtime work, there could be significant cutbacks, with a corresponding increase in the number of vehicles that are out of service.

This current strike represents the fourth occurrence of job action by the maintenance workers in recent months. Previous strikes took place in June, from September to October, and again in November of 2025. These multiple disruptions reflect ongoing tensions between the workers and management over labor issues, which remain unresolved despite previous negotiations.

In light of the strike, the province’s labor tribunal issued a ruling indicating that only essential services were mandated to be maintained during the strike, including operations on holidays. This ruling highlights the importance of essential transit services while acknowledging the workers' right to protest their conditions.

This ongoing labor dispute underscores the challenges faced by public transit agencies in balancing operational demands while addressing workers' rights and concerns. As the strike progresses, both the management of Montreal's public transit agency and the workers will have to navigate the implications of these labor actions on public transportation services in the city.