Canadian National Railway returns to bargaining table with Unifor

OTTAWA — Talks continue today between Canadian National Railway (TSX:CNR) and the union representing nearly 5,000 employees under the company's threat of a lockout.

CN President Claude Mongeau met Sunday with the president of Unifor, which represents the 4,800 employees, including mechanical workers, clerical and cargo handlers.

A statement from Unifor says Jerry Dias and Mongeau had a meaningful dialogue and that the two sides are set to meet today in Ottawa.

The railway said Friday that it would lock out the Unifor members tonight unless the union agreed to binding arbitration to settle contract differences.

The union, which has announced plans to begin a strike vote next week after the failure of five months of negotiations, rejected CN's ultimatum.

Last week the threat of legislation prompted CP Rail and the Teamsters to end a one day strike by 33-hundred locomotive engineers and other train workers.

Federal Labour Minister Kellie Leitch is welcoming the resumption of negotiations at CN.

A statement Leitch released Sunday gave no hint the government would intervene with legislation in the CN dispute.

However, it did say both sides have promised that commuter rail service in Montreal would not be affected by any work-stoppage.