OTTAWA, April 26 (Xinhua) -- The premier of Canada's Ontario province vowed Saturday to move the back-to-work legislation to force the striking transit workers back on duty after 1.5 million passengers were stranded by a surprise strike in the early morning.

    About 9,000 workers of Toronto's subway, streetcars and buses went on strike in the midnight without advance notice, bringing the public transport in Canada's largest city to a standstill.

    Union chief Bob Kinnear said the strike was launched without giving a 48-hour warning to keep transit workers from facing anger from commuters. Union members had failed to reach an agreement with the Toronto Transit Commission on their demands including a 3percent salary increase per year and unspecified benefits.

    Premier Dalton McGuinty said Saturday he would recall the legislature Sunday afternoon for an emergency session to help end the strike as soon as possible.

    "We will move the back-to-work legislation through the legislative process as quickly as possible," McGuinty said in a statement Saturday.