County mayors announced today that they and the state Department of Education, the University of Hawaii and the Hawaii Health Systems Corp. have reached an agreement in principle on the framework for new labor contracts with public-sector unions.

At a news conference at Honolulu Hale, Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, speaking for the mayors and state agencies, said a meeting with the state and the unions is scheduled for Monday morning at the state Department of Human Resources Development.

Hannemann said Gov. Linda Lingle was notified of the agreement on Wednesday evening. The mayor urged the governor to personally attend the Monday meeting.

Union leaders are expected to make a formal proposal to the state on Monday.

Hannemann would not describe the details of the proposal but said it recognizes the uniqueness of the different parties involved and is flexible.

Lingle has said she would not meet with the unions until the unions come back with a formal offer in response to offers made by the state and county mayors last month.

Lingle had also wanted to impose three furlough days a month for two years to save $688 million and help close a budget deficit that is now at an estimated $786 million.

A Circuit Court judge ruled last week that furloughs should be subject to collective bargaining.

Hannemann, appearing with Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares, said the mayors stepped forward in part because of the breakdown in communication between the state and the unions.