HONOLULU -- A judge on Tuesday set July 2 as the date for a court hearing on a lawsuit by two unions asking for an injunction against the state's plan to furlough workers while unions hope to gain public support.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association and the United Public Workers unions went to court to try and block Gov. Linda Lingle's plan to furlough state workers three days a month starting July 1.

Circuit Court Judge Karl Sakamoto met with union attorney Herb Takahashi and the attorney general Tuesday. They discussed the unions' push to halt furloughs and set the court date.

"We will take the position that first the governor has the authority to furlough but second, and we will take the position that this is a matter in the first instance should be before the Hawaii Labor Relations Board," Attorney General Mark Bennett said.

Sakamoto set July 2 for a hearing on the lawsuit.

While the hearing is set for the day after the furlough are scheduled, the first day for the plan would be for the first three Friday of the month for most departments.

The Hawaii Government Employees Association meanwhile has filed a lawsuit that seeks to do two things: stop the furloughs and halt layoffs.

The unions said furloughs would be financially devastating to 15,600 public employees, what would amount to almost a 14-percent pay cut.

The governor said she needs the $688 million furloughs would save to close a budget gap.

The unions have given hundreds of business-size cards to union members in an effort to sway public opinion. Union leaders asked members to hand the cards out when they spend money at a business.

The cards say, "I am a government employee/retiree, taxpayer and customer who just patronized your business. We are doing our part to support Hawaii's economy. Thank you for supporting us in return." The cards have logos of HSTA, UPW, HGEA and the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly.