DES MOINES, IOWA (AP) -- Gov. Chet Culver is ordering seven days of unpaid furloughs for thousands of state workers and asking union leaders to reopen contracts or face more layoffs.
Speaking Wednesday at a news conference, Culver announced he'd ordered the furloughs for 3,258 workers not covered by the union contracts.
Culver added he's found ways to restore about $16 million to agencies dealing with children and vulnerable adults. He says he hasn't reached a final decision on cuts to the Public Safety and Corrections departments, where layoffs of hundreds of workers is possible.
He says reductions to union contracts could save enough money to avoid laying off prison guards and state patrol troopers.
A union spokesman expressed a willingness to talk but wouldn't make any commitments.
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