State lawmakers are back at the Capitol for Week 3 of a special session to work out a two-year budget. The deadline is the end of the month, and there's lots of heavy-lifting left. If they and the governor don't reach agreement, layoffs of state employees and shutdown of some government services are likely.

Unions representing state workers have reached an agreement with state officials on how layoffs would be managed, said Eliot Seide, executive director of AFSCME Council 5, the state's largest public workers' union. It would define who "essential" workers are. Among those who could be affected are park rangers, the state patrol, transportation workers and license bureau staff.

Seide said it's in everyone's interest to find common ground.

"What we are doing is trying to make sure that Minnesotans continue to get the best public services in the nation, as they've been used to getting," he said. "And, also, that we protect our members, so that they are not pawns in this game between the governor and the State Legislature."

The union represents 40,000 state, local and non-profit employees. Details of the agreement on layoff contingencies was scheduled to be announced Monday at the state Department of Employee Relations.

Spending bills still pending include transportation, education, agriculture, environment and health. Funding for public safety has been approved, so prisons would be staffed.