Negotiators for the Northern California Media Guild met with San Francisco Chronicle management representatives Friday in an effort to reach a contract settlement before a management-imposed deadline of Monday at midnight.

Chronicle Publisher Frank Vega joined in the talks for the first time since bargaining began this spring.

The Guild contract, which covers about 900 employees in editorial, circulation, classified, marketing and retail advertising, expired on June 30. Terms remain in effect while talks continue.

Management insisted that its latest so-called "best offer" will be withdrawn and a "less generous" proposal put forward if the Monday deadline is not met. The management proposal calls for deep pay cuts and numerous other union concessions covering virtually all areas of the work place.

The union has raised about two dozen specific objections to the management proposal. Grievance settlements also are part of the ongoing discussions.

More talks are scheduled for the weekend.

If an agreement is reached, Guild leaders will schedule a ratification vote next week at which all members will have a chance to make their views heard. Any agreement must win a majority vote in order to take effect. Meanwhile other locals in the Conference of Newspaper Unions are conducting separate talks.