Montreal city officials and the union representing the municipality’s blue‑collar workforce announced on September 21, 2026 that they have reached an agreement in principle on a new collective agreement. The tentative deal eliminates the need for a strike that had been scheduled to begin on September 22 and run through September 28, 2026.
The agreement in principle was reached late in the day on September 21, after weeks of negotiations between city representatives and union leaders. Both parties said the understanding addresses the key issues that had driven the union toward a work stoppage, and they will now move forward with finalizing the contract details.
The planned walkout would have involved thousands of municipal workers across a range of services, potentially disrupting city operations for an entire week. By securing the tentative deal, the city and the union have averted that disruption and ensured continuity of essential services for residents.
The new collective agreement is expected to be formally ratified in the coming weeks. Until then, the agreement remains provisional, but the immediate effect is the cancellation of the strike that was set to commence on September 22. City officials indicated that the agreement reflects a compromise that meets the core concerns of the workforce while maintaining the city’s operational stability.
Both sides expressed satisfaction with the outcome, noting that the resolution came just before the strike deadline. The avoidance of a week‑long work stoppage is seen as a positive development for the city’s residents and for the municipal workforce, which can now focus on its duties without the interruption of labor action.