HONOLULU -- Contract talks aimed at ending Honolulu's bus strike broke off late Thursday night. No new talks are scheduled.

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Teamsters Union Local 996 President Mel Kahele said there was no progress in the negotiations that resumed earlier in the day. Kahele had said during a dinner break that Oahu Transit Services isn't serious about the negotiations.

On Wednesday, the company sent a letter to Kahele, saying there would be no layoffs if the City Council comes up with $6.8 million.

Both sides are saying different things. The bus company said it agreed to no layoffs unless there's an economic hardship such as the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Kahele said that the company's newest proposal for a three-year deal included no layoffs, but only through next June.

Oahu Transit spokeswoman Marilyn Dicus said the letter didn't mention a time limit, and that the no-layoffs proposal was still a matter of negotiation. The previous negotiation session ended Monday night just before the strike began early Tuesday morning.

Both sides agreed to no wage increases during the first year of the contract. what happens during the following two years is where there is conflict.

"We have a problem here. we tried to make attempts to end this strike," Kahele said.

"We believe we met the union more than half way on this matter," OTS negotiator Perry Confalone said.

OTS officials said they asked the union to resume talks Friday morning, but they refused.