By AP
Springfield, IL – Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and the state's largest employees union are announcing a deal that would avert 2,600 layoffs. Both sides were sketchy on the details last night. But statements from both Quinn's office and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees indicate employees are willing to take voluntary furlough days and forgo pay increases in the short term. A judge stalled Quinn's plans to lay off workers to save money in a budget crisis after AFSCME filed a lawsuit over the matter last fall. Quinn's office announced the deal would save more than $200
million. That's well short of the multibillion-dollar deficit the state faces.