The unions representing state workers said yesterday they want to meet with Gov. Linda Lingle on how to resolve the state's budget crisis, but the governor does not want to come to the table unless the unions present a formal plan.

The administration is willing to sit down with the unions, but not just to "talk story," said Linda Smith, Lingle's chief policy adviser.

"We will sit down anyplace, at any time, at any date and listen to their formal proposals to us, because we have made a formal proposal as the employer group, and we are waiting for them to respond to our formal proposal," Smith said.

Last month, Lingle ordered state workers to take three days of unpaid leave per month, which amounts to a 13.8 percent pay cut. The unions asked the courts to halt the action.

On Thursday, Circuit Judge Karl Sakamoto sided with the unions and ruled that Lingle could not unilaterally impose furloughs. Sakamoto said such actions are subject to negotiations with the four labor organizations affecting government workers — the Hawai'i Government Employees Association, United Public Workers, the Hawai'i State Teachers Association and the University of Hawai'i Professional Assembly.

Jodi Chai, HGEA communications officer, said yesterday that the union leaders immediately contacted a federal mediator after Sakamoto's ruling, seeking a meeting with the state.

"It was going to be for today (yesterday) at 10, and then the governor wasn't willing to meet unless it was a formal meeting," Chai said. "But the unions felt more progress would be made if it was ... an open discussion."

Chai said the unions are hopeful they will be able to meet with Lingle on Monday.

HSTA president Roger Takabayashi added that the unions will continue to work with the federal mediator.

Takabayashi said Lingle should talk with the unions even if they have no proposal for how they intend to balance the budget.

"That's how negotiation is, you have to sit down ... you have to be willing to come to the table, that's step one," Takabayashi said. "And the terms, of course, are you do talk story, generally. That's where everything starts. You don't just come in and dictate what you want exactly. You have to find out where the other person is."

The unions have said they are not averse to discussing furloughs, but went to court over Lingle's authority to do so without negotiations.

"We'll look at everything," Takabayashi said, stressing that there are other ways the state could save money.

AVOIDING LAYOFFS

Lingle has said her plan to furlough state workers and make equivalent spending cuts at the state Department of Education and the University of Hawai'i would save the state $688 million and help close a deficit she estimates at $730 million through June 2011.

Smith said yesterday that Lingle and top officials were to meet through the weekend to discuss the state's next step in the wake of Sakamoto's ruling.

Lingle has said she would begin laying off state workers if her furlough plans were denied.

But Smith said that Lingle wants to avoid layoffs as much as possible.

"If there are any areas that we have not yet found that we believe we could perhaps tap, in terms of dollars ... and (wouldn't) affect health and safety ... we would look at those areas first," Smith said. "And then if we have to look at positions, and people in those positions, that would be our second tier."

Smith said she believes decisions will be made fairly quickly.

"We haven't set any firm deadlines but we know that each day has some impact in terms of what we have to do to close the budget," she said.

Smith said the administration has not ruled out challenging Sakamoto's decision, which temporarily blocked the governor from moving forward with the furloughs. Lingle met for several hours with state Attorney General Mark Bennett after the ruling to discuss options.

Until Sakamoto issues a permanent decision, the state does not have the option to appeal. Bennett said the state wants Sakamoto to expedite a final judgment as early as possible.

"Once that's entered, which isn't going to happen for at least a few days at best, we're going to consider whether we're going to take an appeal from that or not," Bennett said.