APNewsBreak: Federal judge blocks furloughs of NY state workers by governor, orders hearing

APNewsBreak: Judge halts NY state worker furloughs

ALBANY, N.Y. — A federal judge has blocked New York’s governor from imposing furloughs on about 100,000 state workers.

U.S. District Judge Lawrence Kahn says that until he rules on union lawsuits seeking an injunction, Gov. David Paterson and lawmakers are temporarily blocked from implementing any furloughs.

The unpaid one-day-a-weel furloughs are part of a short-term funding measure approved by the Legislature this week.

Kahn says in his order Wednesday that the unions have shown a permanent 20 percent loss in wages or salaries would constitute irreparable harm. He has scheduled a hearing for May 26.