MILWAUKEE-An arbitrator threw out Scott Walker's order to reduced the county employee work week to 35 hours.

 

In an email, the arbitrator said that would violated the labor agreement with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal employees.

 

Just this past Friday, a judge refused to intervene so Walker said he would go ahead with the plan as the county faces a major budget crunch.

 

Walker's plan would not affect workers who were on the front lines of public health and safety such as nurses and jail officers.

 

Walker said he had hoped to cut the county deficit by $15 million with the reduced hours.

 

But controversy erupted when county supervisors said he was over esimating the budget gap.  One esitimate had it more around $650,000.