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Gov. Brown Issues Furlough Order For Last 2 Labor Groups

SACRAMENTO (AP) — Gov. Jerry Brown has issued a furlough order for more than 11,000 state workers whose unions have yet to reach a deal for a 5 percent wage cut.

The order from the Brown administration, issued last week, forces employees to take one day of unpaid leave a month, which is about a 5 percent pay cut.

California lawmakers passed a budget last month authorizing the Democratic governor to furlough state workers. Most unions reached agreements before the new fiscal year started July 1.

Only the two labor groups representing 11,600 state engineers and heavy machinery operators haven't reached a deal.

Bruce Blanning, executive director of the Professional Engineers in California Government, says he still hopes to reach a compromise with Brown. His group wants to eliminate private contracts.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.)

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