Court puts state layoffs on hold in Illinois

By Associated Press

Vienna, IL – Governor Pat Quinn's planned state layoffs are on hold.

Saline County Judge Todd Lambert today issued a preliminary injunction sought by a major union to block Quinn's push to lay off some 2,600 state workers. The union sued last month in Johnson County claiming the layoffs would create serious safety hazards for Illinois prison workers and would be inappropriate until their impact is assessed.

AFSCME executive director Henry Bayer says Quinn and other politicians now should consider revenue-generating tax increases instead of job cuts.

There's no immediate comment from the state.