LONGVIEW, Washington (From The Daily News) -- Union workers have rejected the latest contract offer from KapStone Paper and Packaging Corp., prolonging a labor dispute that has simmered and festered for nearly two years.

Leaders of Local 153 of the Association of Western Pulp and Paperworkers said the majority of voting members rejected the contract offer. But they declined to provide numbers or make additional comments Friday night.

It's not clear whether Local 153 and KapStone have any other talks scheduled, or what the next steps are in this lengthy process. Workers could continue the status quo, which would be to continue working without a contract. They could also decide to walk out or continue to bargain.

Local 153, which represents about 800 workers at the Longview plant, voted this week on a contract that had modest changes from offers they'd rejected earlier.

Company officials gave the union a Jan. 31 deadline on the offer, saying the proposal and the $2,200 signing bonus would be off the table without ratification.

A handful of mill workers, who asked not to be named, said they didn't feel that the latest contract was significantly different from others they had previously turned down.

Many mill workers also are angry that five workers fired for alleged misconduct during last summer's 12-day strike apparently do not have their jobs back -- in spite of findings from the National Labor Relations Board suggesting they're wasn't enough evidence to support claims of misconduct.

Local 153 and KapStone have been at loggerheads since May 2014, when their contract expired. Maintaining health care benefits and seniority rules have been major sticking points for the union's 800 members.

Last August, KapStone called an impasse and unilaterally implemented a contract offer. Within days, the union called an unfair labor practice strike, but the walkout ended after 12 days without a contract.