A counterproposal made by the Hawai'i Nurses' Association was rejected by management.

The nurses at Kuakini last night had returned to the bargaining table with management in an effort to break a deadlock that has kept them off the job for nearly three weeks.

The mediation session from 8 last night to 4:40 this morning ended without the parties scheduling further talks.

A spokeswoman for the hospital could not be reached for comment this morning. Union officials say the nurses remain most concerned with reducing mandatory overtime and preventing additional uncovered shifts, as well as the retiree benefits.

The two sides at Kuakini last met Monday, when the Hawai'i Nurses' Association asked Kuakini to consider changes to the hospital's last offer.

There were no new talks scheduled at two other hospitals where nurses also are on strike.

No negotiations have been held at St. Francis Medical Center since the strike began Dec. 1.

At The Queen's Medical Center, talks broke off early Tuesday morning, but several nurses decided to take their case directly to the hospital board of directors yesterday. Four nurses drove to the homes of most of the board's 38 members to deliver a letter, said Queen's nurse Elizabeth Clavin.