(Quebec) Public transport users in Quebec will have to look to other ways to get around the city in the coming days, as 935 bus drivers officially went on strike on Saturday and could remain on strike for two next weeks.
The Union of Public Transport Employees of Metropolitan Quebec, affiliated with the FEESP-CSN, confirmed on Saturday morning that since no agreement has been reached with the employer, the Réseau de transport de la Capitale (RTC), its members have started a strike that will continue until July 16 inclusive, unless an agreement is reached by then.
And contrary to what has been the custom in recent years during a public transit strike in Quebec, there will be no essential services maintained during the strike at the RTC.
The Administrative Labor Tribunal ruled in June that following an amendment to the Labor Code, it is up to it to decide whether or not the parties should be subject to this obligation. In the present case, he decided not, since the health and safety of the public are not put at risk by the strike.
The transport company thus confirmed on Saturday that only paratransit, Flexibus and àVélo services will be available during the strike. The buses will therefore remain in the garage during the pressure tactics, which could continue during the pivotal period of the Festival d’été de Québec, which will begin on Thursday.
Earlier this week, the organizers of the festival mentioned on social networks that they had started discussions with the various municipal authorities in order to “implement actions aimed at reducing the impact of the strike on festival-goers”.
In their respective press releases, the two parties expressed their desire to continue negotiations in order to reach an agreement as soon as possible. A conciliator-mediator from the Ministry of Labor also continues to support the parties in order to find common ground quickly, said Minister Jean Boulet on Twitter.
The RTC serves a population of 580,000, operates a fleet of 449 standard buses, 109 articulated buses and 64 hybrid minibuses.