(AP) -- DETROIT - About 700 Wayne County employees will be laid off every Friday in an effort to pare a $100 million budget deficit.
Non-supervisory employees in three American Federation of State,
County and Municipal Employees unions will be subject to the indefinite furloughs scheduled to begin Feb. 5. AFSCME represents about 1,600 county workers.
Officials said the move will save the county about $180,000 and avoid 300 to 500 permanent layoffs. It also could help retain health care benefits for the county's 3,800 employees.
The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press say the county has been asking union officials to accept a 10 percent salary reduction already taken by Executive Robert Ficano, commissioners and appointees.
AFSCME officials were not immediately available for comment.
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