CP Rail, union extend no-strike deal through Dec 8

TORONTO, Nov 23 (Reuters) Canadian Pacific Railway (CP.TO: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) the union representing its 4,500 locomotive engineers and conductors have extended a no-strike and no-lockout agreement through Dec. 8 as they push ahead with talks to salvage a labor deal, the company said on Friday.

The deal to keep workers on the job was originally scheduled to end on Saturday.

At a ratification vote a week ago, 50.9 percent of those who cast ballots rejected a tentative contract, which the company and union bargaining committees agreed to in September, forcing the two sides to reopen talks.

The tentative five-year deal had offered improvements in wages, benefits and pension provisions, the union said at the time. (Reporting by Janet Guttsman; editing by Louise Heavens)