Yesterday's deadline for accepting up to 37.5 days of furloughs was ignored by the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, according to Executive Director, J.N. Musto.

Earlier this week, Musto said he was told by state negotiators that his union of 3,600 University of Hawaii professors had until yesterday to accept the state offer.

Musto rejected it, saying that the state also expected the professors to do the same amount of work, so he called it a pay cut, not a furlough.

“;We are not entertaining it, either. This furlough plan is not a furlough plan; it is a salary cut,”; Musto said. “;We are not accepting a furlough or a pay cut, and there have been no communications with the state since April 17.”;

Lingle, at a news conference yesterday, declined to comment on Musto's complaint but said she has been having talks with two other unions.

“;Collective bargaining, you know, I don't do in the media, so I have nothing I can tell you at this time,”; Lingle said.

Lingle added, “;Negotiations with a couple of the unions are progressing very well, and the other two, hopefully, will progress very well.”;

Negotiators with the United Public Workers and the Hawaii State Teachers Association did not returned phone calls from the Star-Bulletin.

The other union involved in state negotiations is the Hawaii Government Employees Association, which also reports it has not held discussions with the Lingle administration.

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Star-Bulletin reporter B.J. Reyes contributed to this story.