Judge's ruling means Tennessee can now proceed with laying off state workers

Arkansas-Tennessee Live Blog

NASHVILLE - Layoffs of dozens of state workers will now proceed after a Nashville judge this morning dissolved her temporary restraining order.

Davidson county Circuit Court Judge Amanda McClendon ruled against the Tennessee State Employees Association and a group of workers who filed suit earlier this month to prevent the Haslam administration from laying off the employees.

The employees group argued the administration denied workers' their right to have access to the state's online database of job listings during most of the 60-day layoff notice period.

In lifting the injunction she handed down June 10, mcClendon said "it's obvious the state will suffer" if the stay continued.

She said employees have no property right to the positions and the state was within its rights in actions it took.

The state's Neogov web site was shut down and hiring frozen as the state updated the site to accommodate a new pay schedule for all employees, state officials say.

Robert O'Connell, executive director of the state employees group, said he was disappointed by the decision. But he said that at the very least the temporary restraint order gave the workers five additional days to use the Neogov site when it want back online June 19.

The site was taken down in early May, days after the layoff notices went out in April.

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