MONTREAL, Que. CN Rail reports it met with the United Transportation Union (UTU) for five hours today but emerged with no settlement.

The UTU launched renewed strike activity April 10 after it announced its members’ rejection of a tentative settlement agreement with the company signed on Feb. 24, 2007. UTU members in Canada have been on strike at CN since Feb. 10, 2007, but suspended strike action and returned to work during the ratification process for the tentative settlement.

CN says the UTU demanded that CN improve its offer in light of the rejection of the memorandum of settlement, and was unwilling to address issues CN previously raised during negotiations.

CN added its bargaining team will be available for further discussions but no future meeting dates have been scheduled.

CN on April 11 locked out UTU members at various terminals in Canada where union members had withdrawn their services. The UTU represents 2,800 conductors and yard-service employees at CN in Canada.

CN continues to attempt to maintain service with management personnel performing the duties of locked out UTU members.

CN said the UTU has given the company verbal assurances that it will continue to protect commuter rail services in Toronto and Montreal.