A week before the start of a possible strike at the Réseau de transport de la Capitale (RTC), Quebec Mayor Bruno Marchand hopes the two parties will reach an agreement and thus avoid a strike.
Should the discussions fail, the approximately 900 RTC drivers would go on strike from July 1 to 16 at the same time as the Festival d’été de Québec.
“I have all my faith in both parties so that we can reach an agreement and that people are not being taken hostage,” said Mayor Marchand, who was asked about the issue during a ceremony honoring the 75th anniversary of the Quebec flag.
The Administrative Labor Court recently ruled that the RTC was not considered an essential service, meaning no buses would operate on Quebec’s roads during this period.
The mayor of Quebec reiterated that he disagreed with this decision. The lack of public transport would severely limit travel options for many citizens.
We continue to believe that public transport is an essential service. “We very much hope that we will not go on strike,” added the mayor.
In the event of a strike, no bus would ply the streets of Quebec. (archive photo)
Photo: Radio-Canada / Raphaël Beaumont-Drouin
Bruno Marchand does not rule out that the administrative court’s decision could be challenged in the courts of other cities, but he believes it is too late for the July 1st strike.
Negotiations between the RTC and the Union of Public Transport Employees of Metropolitan Quebec, which represents bus drivers’ interests, are ongoing. Union members put On Strike Soon stickers on bus windows this week.
Earlier in the month they had used more pressure tactics and refused to display their line numbers on their buses.