The governor's refusal up to this point to go face-to-face in formal contract negotiations covering state and county employees isn't that unusual for top management.

Sending in a negotiator and still keeping close tabs on the process introduces an element of remote control. It could definitely slow down the process since the negotiator would be required to take proposals back to the top before approving them.

Last week, Gov. Linda Lingle decided to keep negotiations on a formal level. Her top negotiator walked out of a meeting with union officials and Hawaii's four mayors when the unions failed to present a proposal in writing. Lingle also said she would be willing to meet with union leaders, but on the record and, presumably, in front of the public.

Mayor Charmaine Tavares says there is a framework proposal, and she plans to be part of a Monday meeting with the union leaders, the other mayors, Lingle's negotiator and a federal mediator. No. 1 on the agenda is the court-dismissed plan to have all state employees take a three-day furlough each month. The governor's office says there is no meeting scheduled to discuss a formal contract proposal.

There are no county furloughs or layoffs anticipated by Mayor Tavares, although union contracts are the same for state and county workers and are negotiated simultaneously.

The state is cash strapped and the union-led state employees are not ready to accept what amounts to a 14 percent cut in pay. They may have no choice. The governor can't approve spending money that isn't there. Cutting payroll cost is the goal. It can be done more than one way. That's the point of negotiating.

Since before statehood, unions have played pivotal roles in island life with the kind of reciprocal political support that has resulted in relatively easy contract talks. This time, the situation is unique. Creative thinking is required and it can come from either side. Making the right decision for all of Hawaii will require a clear head and a steely will. Gov. Linda Lingle has both.

* Editorials reflect the opinion of the publisher.