Montreal’s municipal government and the Montreal Firefighters Association announced on September 8, 2026 that they have reached a principle agreement to replace the collective bargaining contract that expired on January 1, 2024. The deal marks the end of a period during which the city’s firefighters operated without a formal agreement following the lapse of the previous contract early in 2024.
The principle agreement, negotiated between the city and the union, is intended to lay the groundwork for a new collective bargaining contract. While the specific terms of the forthcoming contract have not been disclosed, the agreement signals that both parties have identified a framework from which to move forward.
Firefighters in Montreal have been without a contract for more than two and a half years, a situation that emerged when the earlier collective agreement reached its expiration at the start of 2024. The absence of a binding agreement prompted extended negotiations, during which the city and the union worked to resolve outstanding issues and restore a formal labor relationship.
City officials described the September 8 agreement as a significant step toward stability for the fire service and its personnel. The Montreal Firefighters Association similarly noted that the principle deal provides a basis for concluding a full contract that will address the needs of its members.
The new agreement is expected to guide the finalization of a comprehensive collective bargaining contract in the coming months. Both sides have indicated a commitment to continue discussions within the framework set by the principle agreement, aiming to secure a lasting resolution for the fire department’s labor relations.
The resolution of this long‑standing impasse follows more than two years of negotiations and is seen as a move toward normalizing labor relations for one of Montreal’s essential public safety services.