Hearing delayed in lawsuit over planned layoffs

VIENNA -- A hearing on a union's legal bid to block Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn's plan to lay off about 2,600 state employees has been pushed back.

A new judge was tapped Wednesday to hear the lawsuit in Vienna (VY'-en-nuh) by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. That means a hearing that was to have been Thursday won't be held until Sept. 23.

AFSCME argues that the layoffs shouldn't be allowed until the state finishes negotiating over their impact. The union also says the layoffs would create serious safety hazards for Illinois prison workers.

AFSCME sued last month in Johnson County, home of the Vienna Correctional Center.

The Democratic governor says the layoffs are necessary to help balance the state budget.