MTL Blue Collar Workers Threaten to Ruin Cycling World Championships with Strike

[CaptRenault]

If the workers go through with their threat, it would be a big embarrassment for the city. The cycling world championships are a major global sports event which will already disrupt the normal life of the city with some road closures and detours. There will be athletes, team staff and visitors in the city from around the world. Garbage strewn streets would not be a good look for the city.

The cycling world championships were last held in Montreal in 1974, when the great Eddy Merckx won the race.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/blue-collar-workers-montreal-cycling-championships-strike-9.7329954

The blue-collar workers' union in Montreal has filed a seven-day strike notice, with workers expected to walk out near the end of September during the UCI 2026 Road World Championships.

The strike is scheduled to take place from Sept. 22 and 28 and could disrupt the event, which runs from Sept. 20 to 27 and will bring the world's best cyclists to Montreal.

''We have just wrapped up an intense round of negotiations and management does not seem to have a clear mandate regarding wages,'' said Nicolas De Ciccio, president of the union, the Syndicat des cols bleus regroupés de Montréal.
"The city is still offering wage increases below the inflation rate! Montreal’s blue-collar workers provide an essential service and deserve, at the very least, to be taken seriously at the bargaining table."

• Montreal's blue-collar workers could launch strike during road cycling world championships
• Montrealers, prepare for 'major disruptions' as city gets ready to host world's best cyclists

In a news release, the union said it was not walking away from the table and is waiting for a ''serious'' offer.
"We're not asking for the moon," continued De Ciccio.
The workers' collective agreement expired on Dec. 31, 2024. The union represents about 6,000 workers.
In mid-August, the union had already warned that if the city did not speed up negotiations, it would have "no choice" but to step up its pressure tactics, potentially leading to a "historic labour dispute" during the cycling event.