JUNE 5, 2000
Worries for Montreal
THE city of Montreal faces serious problems at the Canadian Grand Prix if unions go ahead with a threat to disrupt the city's public transportation system.
The negotiations over pension contributions broke down a month ago and the unions want a solution and hope that by taking action they will force the city's transit corporation to give way to their demands. The unions say that this is the first chance they have had to make an impression on the corporation without upsetting Montreal's commuters.
It is possible, however, that the strike action will be declared illegal by the state of Quebec's Essential Services Council on the grounds of safety as in the event of an emergency the island could not be properly evacuated and traffic jams would block the passage of emergency vehicles.