By Tony McVeigh
Frankfort, KY – It looks like state workers in Kentucky, as planned, will be taking the first of six furlough days tomorrow. Kentucky Public Radio's Tony McVeigh says a Frankfort judge has refused to block the furloughs.
In a six page order denying temporary injunctive relief, Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd is refusing to block furloughs ordered by Gov. Steve Beshear.
Shepherd says union employees who sued to prevent six unpaid days off "failed to make the threshold showing of a present or imminent violation of their legal rights."
Furthermore, he says they "have cited no case to support their theory that increased stress in the workplace constitutes irreparable injury."
However, Judge Shepherd also denied a motion by attorneys for the state to dismiss the lawsuit.
Citing the urgency of the matter, Judge Shepherd set an expedited schedule for hearing evidence on the merits of the case.