Blue collar strike hits garbage, Biodome

MONTREAL – Côte des Neiges/Notre Dame de Grâce Borough residents may have to go without garbage collection Thursday because of a rotating strike by the city of Montreal’s blue collar workers that began early Wednesday. The strike will hit each of the 19 boroughs and central city services, one borough per day, through July 4. Central services will be affected July 5.

The Biodome and the Insectarium are closed indefinitely starting Wednesday because of the strike. The animals and the insects will still be cared for, however.

The Botanical Gardens, as well as its day camps, and the Planetarium, are not affected by the strike and will be operating as usual.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the city said all garbage collection during the blue collar workers’ regular work hours should be completed as usual. Some boroughs use private contractors so collections might not be greatly affected.

The strike affects work done as overtime, either before or after regular work hours.

The city is asking residents to remove any garbage that is not collected Wednesday and put it out again on the next scheduled collection day.

Here is the list of services that will be maintained during the strike, as approved by Quebec’s Essential Services Council:

Sewers and waterworks: repairs during water main breaks, leaks, sewer back-ups, unblocking, repairs to fire hydrants. If there are problems, people are urged to call 311.

Roads and public works: replacements and repairs of damaged traffic lights; replacement and repairs to street lights; street cleaning if there has been an accident; repairs if there has been a sinkhole; tree trimming in emergency cases.

Potable water production: work to control, monitor and maintain the water distribution network as ordered by the Essential Services Council.

Used water treatment: Workers will ensure the public’s health and safety.

Equipment maintenance: Repairs to emergency vehicles and pumps for water treatment and emergency generators used in emergencies.

Special events: The union has agreed to provide workers, even on overtime, as necessary for festivals and special events and where it affects public health and safety.

Calendar for rotating strikes:

Ville-Marie: June 16

Côte des Neiges/ Notre Dame de Grâce: June 17

St-Laurent : June 18

Mercier-Hochelaga/Maisonneuve: June 19

Plateau Mont Royal: June 20

Outremont: June 21

Île Bizard/Ste-Geneviève: June 22

Rosemont/La Petite Patrie: June 23

Villeray/St Michel/Park Extension: June 24

Southwest: June 25

Rivière des Prairies/Pointe aux Trembles: June 26

Ahuntsic/Cartierville: June 27

Lachine: June 28

Anjou: June 29

Montreal North: June 30

LaSalle : July 1

Pierrefonds/Roxboro: July 2

St-Léonard : July 3

Verdun: July 4

Central services: July 5

For more information, people are asked to visit the city website at http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/portal/page?_pageid=5798,38539559&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL