The Hawaii Labor Relations Board today ordered the Lingle administration to meaningfully consult with the Hawaii Government Employees Association on layoffs but did not grant the union's request to halt the layoffs.

The board, which oversees the state's labor law, gave state department directors until the end of the month to provide the union with the criteria used to select more than 1,100 state workers for layoffs.
James Nicholson, chairman of the three-member board, set a status conference for Oct. 6 to determine whether there has been meaningful consultation.
Nicholson said the board would take further action, including possibly granting the union's request to halt layoffs, if the Lingle administration does not engage in consultation.
The layoffs are scheduled to start on Nov. 13.
Gov. Linda Lingle has said that layoffs are necessary to help the state close an estimated $884 million budget deficit through June 2011.
The governor ordered the layoffs after her furlough plans were blocked as unconstitutional by the unions in court.
The state and the HGEA and the United Public Workers' public safety unit are in binding arbitration over new contracts. The state is also negotiating with the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly on a new contract.
The state and the Hawaii State Teachers Association agreed to a new contract that calls for 17 furlough days a year for 10-month teachers and 21 furlough days a year for year-round teachers.