STM:After the rain, the sun comes out, but for how long?

The president of the Société de Transport de Montréal (STM) and mayor of Verdun, Claude Trudel, estimates that the threat of Quebec imposing a special law, motivated unionized workers to go back to work. The president did not mince words, stating that the latest strike was premature and irresponsible. "There were a lot of topics still left to discuss and we had already agreed on the pension issue," explains Mr. Trudel, who had reiterated the STM's position on the salary increases, insisting on 0% for the first year and 2% for the following years. Taking into consideration the $22 million dollar deficit that the STM has and the uncertainty involving financing of repairing and replacing equipment, the STM could not allow for anything more.

The president mentioned that sub-contracting for maintenance had come up in the past, but the experience had not been a positive one. He does not close the door to new experiences, but whatever the future holds, he hopes that its employees understand that the STM is here to stay and it won't close, since it is a public service.

Claude Trudel believes that essential services were adequately provided during the strike, reminding everyone that the drivers and office staff were not responsible for the situation.

In his response to the transit plan, recently unveiled by the Tremblay administration, the leader of the official opposition at city council, Noushig Eloyan, stated that rates for the bus-metro card (CAM) increased seven times in the past five years! Mr. Trudel replied that he has not been president for the past five years and that he would do everything possible to avoid more increases, but that he couldn't guarantee anything to transit users.