HONOLULU -- Hertz Rent-A-Car employees were on the verge of a strike Friday because of a dispute over wages, overtime and medical benefits.

Teamsters Local 996, representing unionized Hertz employees, and the rental company spent last Wednesday discussing a possible compromise, according to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Negotiations were conducted through a federal mediator.

Union officials' demands included that Hertz hire more employees to reduce mandatory overtime levels. Though the union sought permits to picket at the Honolulu airport and other locations across the region, the strike was postponed, the newspaper said. The employees and union officials were allowed to picket beginning 12:01 p.m. last Thursday. But the workers held off in order to consider Hertz's latest offer.

According to the newspaper report, Hertz agreed to increase hourly wages $1.20 and to create a task force, comprising both management and union members. The task force would address concerns about mandatory overtime levels. As of Friday, officials estimated the vote could possibly take several days.