As Montrealers stare down a month of heavily scaled back transit service, the union behind the looming strike says its hand was forced by a recent provincial labour law.

Bill 89, which became law in May, will give Quebec’s labour minister the ability to end labour disputes and force striking workers back on the job as of Nov. 30.

By holding a walkout throughout November, STM maintenance workers hoped to pre-empt the upcoming rule change, union president Bruno Jeannotte said.

Without Bill 89, “we wouldn’t be in a strike of this magnitude,” he said.

On Friday, STM maintenance workers plan to begin their most disruptive strike yet, bringing bus and métro service to a halt outside peak hours every day until Nov. 28. It will mark the third walkout this year after dozens of meetings between

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