HONOLULU -- More than 2,000 members from public worker unions arrived for a rally Tuesday at the state Capitol.

The unions gathered to protest Gov. Linda Lingle's plan to furlough state workers three days a month.

The unions have been printing up signs and said the theme for the rally at the Capitol and another one on the Big Island is "fairness and equity."

The furloughs are scheduled to begin July 1, with the first furlough on Monday.

The Hawaii Government Employees Association, Hawaii State Teachers Association and United Public Workers have all filed legal challenges to the governor's proposed three-day a month work furlough.

A hearing is scheduled for Thursday on the challenge by the HSTA and UPW.

More than 16,000 state workers would be affected and will basically get about a 14 percent pay cut.

Lingle said she has the right to furlough workers and says its necessary to close the majority of a $700 million budget deficit.

The unions say the furloughs have to be negotiated.

Billed as a unity rally, it was a dramatic end to the fiscal year.

While legislative staff watched from above, Republican lawmakers urged workers to be part of the budget solution in light of cuts and layoffs in the private sector.

"We are hoping that things improve quickly and that we could lift the furlough, but we really need to create a situation for economic recovery," Rep. Lynn Finnegan said.

Lawmakers are reluctant to raise taxes, but the unions are challenging the governor's decision to furlough.

"We don't want the $688 million to be taken off the backs of our public workers," HSTA President Roger Takabayashi said.

The ultimate decision rests with a judge who is expected to decide the furlough challenge Thursday.