LANSING (WWJ) - A spokesman for Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder's office says as neither side in the roadwork stoppage has accepted "numerous offers to find a resolution" -- more drastic measures are being considered.

In a release out Thursday, Ari Adler said the governor is looking into activating the National Guard to use their heavy equipment operators for roadwork, claiming the lockout will put motorists’ safety at risk this winter. Also being looked into: withholding payments for contractors.

"Gov. Snyder’s team has been working in good faith to end a standoff that has jeopardized the safety of motorists and workers," the statement continues. "This unacceptable work stoppage has resulted in road projects sitting idle at a time when historic levels of road funding should see work accelerating, not slowing down."

Adler said Snyder's office, meanwhile, has contacted the National Labor Relations Board to ask it to accelerate the review of unfair labor practice charges.

The dispute has halted 150 road projects across the state -- including the massive I-696 resurfacing project, as well as work on I-75 and M-59.

Spokesman Dan McKernan with Operating Engineers, Local 324 Thursday told WWJ Newsradio 950 that, with the help of the governor, they'd reached a handshake deal with the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association.

"We thought, when we left the governor's office on Monday, they'd be back to work this week," McKernan said. "That's what the governor's office told us, that's what we agreed to.We were told the contractors were on board as well.

"The proposal that was made by the governor's office, that was made by them to us. They said this is our deal, are you willing to agree? And we said yeah, we'll take it! To get people back to work, yes, we'll take it," he said.

But McKernan claims MITA then reneged, making changes to the deal regarding fringe benefits that the union cannot accept.

Mike Nystrom with MITA said union leaders are lying.

"It's a baffling tactic," Nystrom told WWJ's Sandra McNeill. "If they truly wanted to get back to work, we were standing ready at a moment's notice to engage in talks."

Nystrom said MITA has been looking into bringing in non-union workers; and, updating the media about the situation Friday, he said he believes that calling in the National Guard may be the way to go.

In fact, he said, talks are now underway.

"MITA is in direct conversations with high-ranking officials at the National Guard about how the industry and National Guard might work together to jumpstart road projects that have been affected by the Operating Engineers, Local 324 defensive lockout," Nystrom said, in a statement. "MITA is surveying its members to determine specific operator needs required to temporarily replace all OE 324 members in terms of numbers, qualifications and geographical needs across the state."

He added, "Due to the fact that not all operators use the same pieces of equipment, it is important for the safety of the job site and the integrity of the work that each project gets the appropriate operators for the job. Once this is determined, MITA and the National Guard will work with MDOT to determine how these equipment operators will be integrated into the contractors’ workforce."

In the meantime, Nystrom said, MITA is open to resuming talks with union leaders.