Associated Press - September 23, 2009 8:24 AM ET

VIENNA, Ill. (AP) - A major union's lawsuit meant to block Gov. Pat Quinn's plan to lay off about 2,600 state employees is scheduled to be taken up by a southern Illinois judge.

Saline County Circuit Judge Todd Lambert also will decide whether the lawsuit by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees should be moved to Sangamon County. That's what the state agencies being sued want.

AFSCME argues the layoffs would create serious safety hazards for Illinois prison workers and would be inappropriate until their impact is assessed.

Quinn calls the layoffs necessary to help balance the state budget, now billions of dollars in the red.

An AFSCME spokesman says the union wants to know how the prisons will operate safely after the cuts are made.

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