Joliet's Illinois Youth Center will not close Friday as originally planned under a cost-saving decree issued by Gov. Pat Quinn.

In a letter wrritten by Illinois Department of Corrections Director S.A. Godinez -- obtained by The Associated Press -- the Joliet facility at 2848 McDonough St., super-maximum-security Tamms in southern Illinois and two others will remain open as the state negotiates with the employees' union that filed suit to temporarily halt the closures.

The AP story said the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees lawsuit maintains the state is obligated by contract to negotiate the terms of closures and inmate transfers. Arbitrations are being held this week to work out the details, the story said.

"All affected employees have been notified of the temporary delay and directed to continue to report for duty at their current work location," according to the letter, which was given to the AP by a former corrections employee.