SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- Members of the California Supreme Court Wednesday challenged the claim that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger did not have the authority to furlough state employees.

The questioning from various justices came Wednesday during oral arguments on a lawsuit filed by government employee unions over Schwarzenegger's controversial furlough program, which requires workers to take regular unpaid days off from work.

The unions say the governor overstepped his bounds because furloughs are not included in the collective bargaining contracts between the state and the unions. The state says the governor's authority is implied.

The Sacramento Bee said some justices questioned what led the unions to conclude Schwarzenegger had no authority. Chief Justice Ronald George compared furloughs to layoffs, which the governor can order.

The court did not immediately rule, but political analysts told the Los Angeles Times a decision could be announced relatively quickly.