After six months of lockout, Autobus La Québécoise drivers are now facing another setback. In a decision issued on September 11, the Commission des transports du Québec (CTQ) revoked two of the three intercity transportation permits operated by the company.
This decision will have consequences for the future of some workers represented by the Service Employees Union (UES800). For the union, however, one thing must be clear: the workers are not responsible for the situation that led to these permits being revoked.
The CTQ decision and the labour dispute are two separate processes. Their consequences are now intersecting, however, and once again, it is the workers who risk paying the price.
Problems that began long before the lockout
In its 42-page decision, the CTQ traces several years of difficulties related to the operation of permits held by Autobus La Québécoise inc. (ALQ).
The Commission found that ALQ had eliminated, reduced or significantly modified services without obtaining prior authorization. It also identified several other operational issues, including relocating stops without authorization after the company was denied access to certain terminals. The CTQ also noted the time the company had been given since 2021 to comply with its obligations.
Ultimately, the CTQ stated that the company’s conduct, having “repeatedly failed to comply with its legal and regulatory obligations and with the Commission’s orders,” raised serious concerns about its ability to operate the services in question. It concluded that revoking the two permits was the only viable solution.
“What this decision highlights is not a problem with the work performed by our members. These are operational and management issues that existed long before the lockout. Our members did their jobs and wanted to continue doing them. The problems that led to these permits being revoked go back several years. Yet today, workers are being asked to bear the consequences,” said Sylvie Landry, union representative with UES800.
Workers already locked out of their jobs
The drivers have been locked out since March 31. The labour dispute arose while the union and the employer were attempting to renew their collective agreement.
During negotiations, UES800 opposed the employer’s proposal to freeze wages for more senior employees and reduce wages for more recent hires. The CTQ decision also shows that the company was already aware of the issues surrounding its permits before the lockout began. The hearings that led to the decision began in March 2025.
Since the beginning of the lockout, the employer has shown no real interest in participating at the bargaining table. It failed to provide availability dates, proposed no concrete solutions and continues to insist on wage cuts. The Tribunal administratif du travail ultimately had to intervene so that a meeting would take place. To us, this approach echoes the company’s repeated failures to meet its obligations, as documented by the CTQ,” said Sylvie Landry.
One permit remains and negotiations continue
The CTQ decision revokes permits 130C and 143B. However, it does not revoke permit 144A, which serves the Sherbrooke–Drummondville–Trois-Rivières corridor. In its decision, the Commission expressly states that it intends to allow Autobus La Québécoise to continue operating under this other permit.
However, the service associated with this permit remains suspended in the context of the lockout.
For UES800, the labour dispute is therefore not over. A bargaining session is scheduled for October 7.
The union also intends to provide individual support to members whose jobs could be affected by the revocation of the other two permits and to ensure that all their rights are respected.
“Some of our members could now lose their jobs, not because they refused to work or failed to do their jobs properly, but as a result of a regulatory decision concerning the way their employer operated its permits. We will be there for them. And for those who remain locked out, we will continue to negotiate and fight for a fair agreement,” concluded Sylvie Landry.