Negotiations are continuing between state officials and the Hawaii Government Employees Association, but no announcement of a possible settlement in the labor dispute is expected before later this week, a union spokeswoman said yesterday.

Gov. Linda Lingle and HGEA Executive Director Randy Perreira said Friday that the two sides were near an agreement that would mean furloughs for state workers but not necessarily stave off layoffs.

HGEA spokeswoman Jodi Endo Chai said yesterday that talks continue and are at a delicate stage. She said she could not elaborate.

The two sides are working on specifics of contract language over the weekend, with a tentative agreement expected to be offered soon to the HGEA's 23,000 state and county workers for a ratification vote.

The state and HGEA have been in binding arbitration, scheduled to continue until December. Both sides have said they would prefer to settle the issue outside of the arbitration process.