On September 11, 2026, the Administrative Labour Tribunal ruled that the City of Montreal did not act in bad faith during collective‑bargaining negotiations, rejecting a claim brought by a municipal workers’ union.
The union had argued that the municipal government employed improper tactics in the bargaining process, alleging that the city failed to negotiate in good faith. The tribunal examined the submissions of both parties and concluded that the evidence did not support a finding of bad‑faith conduct.
The decision follows a broader labor dispute in which the union had publicly accused the city of using negotiation strategies that it deemed improper. The ruling resolves the specific legal challenge over alleged bad‑faith bargaining, but the underlying disagreement between the municipal administration and the union remains.
By dismissing the union’s claim, the tribunal affirmed that the city’s approach to the collective‑bargaining talks met the legal standards for good‑faith negotiation. The outcome may shape how future municipal labor negotiations are conducted and could influence the strategies of both municipal employers and unions in Quebec.
The Administrative Labour Tribunal, which handles disputes between employers and employee groups in Quebec, applied the legal test for bad‑faith bargaining. Under that test, a party must demonstrate that the other side intentionally refused to negotiate sincerely or used deceptive tactics. The tribunal said the city’s conduct did not meet that threshold.
While the ruling settles the specific allegation of bad‑faith conduct, it does not close the broader collective‑bargaining process between the city and the union. Both sides will need to continue negotiations on wages, benefits and working conditions, guided by the tribunal’s finding that the city’s negotiations were conducted in good faith.