Catherwood LibraryILR School

After Governor Paterson put furloughs for state workers in an emergency spending bill that was passed under heavy criticism, the Civil Service Employees Association, the Public Employees Federation, the United University Professions and the New York State United Teachers sued the governor and the legislature, saying that the furloughs violate the Constitution. A judge sided with the unions on Wednesday and temporarily blocked the furloughs, saying that they showed that their members would be harmed by a 20% wage loss from the furloughs. The judge set a hearing date for May 26, and prohibited the inclusion of furloughs in future spending bills. Paterson said that this meant that the workers would not have to sacrifice anything in the time leading up to the hearing, but union leaders say that this plan would have hurt more than it helped. Paterson has not said whether there will be layoffs if the furloughs are permanently halted.