COUNTYWIDE : Union Rejects County’s Offer

The union that represents more than two-thirds of San Diego County’s 17,000 employees has rejected the county’s “last, best and final offer.”

Talks on a new contract have been stalled since January. The labor agreement expired June 30.

Negotiators for the Service Employees International Union have accused county officials of refusing to negotiate non-economic issues. Also at issue are demands by county officials that union workers give back some benefits to help the financially strapped county offer services in an era of declining revenues.

Union officials have offered to resume negotiations Wednesday and continue the talks around the clock through 9 a.m. Nov. 7. As of Thursday afternoon, it was not known if the county had taken the union up on its offer.