Sandia was committed and had requested to resume bargaining this week, but union negotiators were unavailable. Scheduling conflicts exist for both teams the next two weeks, and therefore the teams do not plan to return to the table until Oct. 18. Sandia has offered to continue bargaining before then by exchanging proposals electronically in hopes progress toward an agreement can be made before the Oct. 18 negotiating session. Sandia is still awaiting the union’s response to the comprehensive proposal Sandia made Sept. 22, the day the contract expired.