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.

 

[CaptRenault]

https://montreal.citynews.ca/2026/09/19/montreal-white-blue-collar-workers-rally/

...De Ciccio said the union could use pressure tactics during the championships, but said cyclists’ health and safety would not be put at risk.

“We repeat. We’ve already said it. We do not want to—and will not—endanger the health and safety of cyclists. What we want is to send a message and show that the City of Montreal, as an employer, does not respect its employees if we fail to reach a tentative agreement...”

Well, that's good to know. But what about the health and safety of ordinary citizens? Hmm, we'll see.

 

[twenty4seven]

Strike all the things, esp. when it hurts the most. Collective action is the way.

 

[Assisto]

Strike all the things, esp. when it hurts the most. Collective action is the way.

Le local 301 de la ftq a émis hier un communiqué à l'effet qu'il y aurait entente de principe, qui devra être présentée aux membres avant d'être acceptée. J'ignore cependant si les journées de grève auront tout de même lieu...

 

[twenty4seven]

Le local 301 de la ftq a émis hier un communiqué à l'effet qu'il y aurait entente de principe, qui devra être présentée aux membres avant d'être acceptée. J'ignore cependant si les journées de grève auront tout de même lieu...

C'est formidable. L'action collective est le seul moyen pour les travailleurs d'obtenir ce qu'ils veulent.

 

[CLOUD 500]

C'est formidable. L'action collective est le seul moyen pour les travailleurs d'obtenir ce qu'ils veulent.

Yes well often they are asking for too much which is unreasonable, a good example of this were the Canada Post workers.

 

[CaptRenault]

Good news:

https://montreal.citynews.ca/2026/09/21/strike-avoided-blue-collar-workers/

 

[twenty4seven]

Yes well often they are asking for too much which is unreasonable, a good example of this were the Canada Post workers.

Hard disagree. Always ask for more, esp if they say it's unreasonable, and always stand with unions.

 

[CLOUD 500]

Hard disagree. Always ask for more, esp if they say it's unreasonable, and always stand with unions.

But they hold the public hostage like the STM workers did.

 

[twenty4seven]

But they hold the public hostage like the STM workers did.

I realize they pay media outlets to report things like this with a slant but I'm still don't understand why common people take the sides of corporations and governments over striking workers, like they're the only ones holding out during negotiations. They're the ones holding the public hostage, not the unions and strikers. If their workers were happy they wouldn't be striking.

We gotta stop doing the heavy lifting for cheap CEOs and poor civic managers.