There were delays on some 23 bus routes Monday morning after some 200 buses were late getting on the road in Anjou due to a driver work disruption.

STM drivers at the Anjou bus terminal were unhappy with what they say was a lack of communication by management.

The new SAAQ rules covering transport drivers took effect Monday that required the bus drivers fill out certain forms and use a new type of log book.

"Anjou: local union position regarding new SAAQ norms can cause delays on several bus lines. We are sorry for the inconvenience," the STM tweeted Monday morning.

 

Union spokesperson Daniel Leroux said they had asked management for training but the STM only provided kiosks for one day and sent an information letter to its drivers only last week.

STM spokesperson Isabelle Tremblay said the union was notified of the upcoming changes weeks ago and confirmed they provided information kiosks.

There were no disruptions at any other of the STM terminals.

Reports said former union president Claude Benoit, who works as a bus driver at the Anjou depot, was involved in the dissent movement, but Leroux denied that claim, adding that it is possible other garages received more information or assistance for drivers.

He said once the confusion on how to fill out the forms was resolved, buses began to roll out, but the backlog caused delays and traffic with all the buses leaving at the same time.

Metro also delayed

Service was also interrupted on the metro’s Orange line just before 8 a.m. between Montmorency and Beaubien after a passenger threw a lit cigarette on the Sauve station platform. It caused enough smoke in the station that firefighters had to be called in.

The STM was required to stop service as is protocol.

Service was down for 25 minutes.