Montreal blue-collar workers and city reach tentative deal, avoiding strike

The City of Montreal and the union representing bluecollar workers have reached an agreement in principle on a new collective agreement, cancelling a strike that had been scheduled to start Tuesday and run through Sept. 28. The planned walkout would have overlapped with the UCI 2026 Road World Championships taking place in the city. Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada said the deal reflects dialogue and a shared effort to maintain quality public services. The union said the details will stay confidential until members are briefed. It added that an eightday bargaining push and a week of conciliation helped end months of stalled negotiations. The 6,600 workers have been without a collective agreement since Jan. 1, 2025.