The union representing Hawai'i prison guards and other blue-collar workers filed a new lawsuit against Gov. Linda Lingle yesterday, alleging that the closure of Kulani Correctional Facility on the Big Island would violate state law.

Lingle announced in July that Kulani would be closed in October, which could save the state $2.8 million to help close a budget deficit. The prison has a staff of 76.

About 120 inmates are housed at the minimum-security prison south of Hilo, including 75 in a sex offender treatment program.

Lingle's decision to close the Big Island prison and lay off public employees in the Department of Public Safety, while still "maintaining thousands of inmates in facilities on the Mainland staffed by private sector workers" is discriminatory and violates the state Constitution, said the suit, filed by the United Public Workers.

The suit also alleges that the prison closure was done in "reprisal" for earlier union legal actions that blocked Lingle's plans to furlough state employees because of state budget shortfalls.

The suit seeks to restrain Lingle from proceeding with plans to lay off public workers.

She announced her intention to begin layoffs after a state judge ruled that the plan to furlough workers violated state collective bargaining law.