Gov. 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 ruling favors Council 31 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. It bars Quinn from carrying out the layoffs until the grievances can be worked out by arbitration or other means. 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. A union spokesman hasn’t returned messages seeking comment. The Illinois attorney general’s office is representing the defendants, and an AG spokesman deferred comment until that agency had a chance to review the ruling. — Associated Press

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Judge blocks Quinn’s planned layoffs