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With most states facing budget shortfalls Governors have been asking employees to take unpaid furloughs to help lighten the budget losses. Jesse Russell reports.

In many of those states, such as California, the unions representing workers have fought to preserve those days arguing that they amount to a pay cut. In New Hampshire the State Employees’ Association said on Friday introduced a counter proposal to the Governors request that workers take 12 unpaid furlough days. The union is asking the state to back a plan that would allow for voluntary furloughs. The union’s proposal asks the state to allow workers who take the furlough days to keep their seniority and benefits. New Hampshire Governor The union additionally asks that saved money from worker furloughs be placed in a special account that would show how many jobs are saved by workers making such a sacrifice. New Hampshire is the most recent state to consider furloughs. In North Carolina last week it was announced workers would be asked to take “10-hours of flexible time off” between June and December. Colorado, New York, and Maryland have all proposed five furlough days while California has asked workers to take two furlough days per month.