Illinois officials and the union representing thousands of state workers have agreed to extend the current contract as negotiations on a new one continue.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 also agreed with the state to find a mediator to help contract talks.
The 4-year contract covers 40,000 state workers and expires Saturday.
State and AFSCME negotiators agreed Wednesday in East Peoria to keep the existing contract in place as bargaining continues.
An AFSCME statement did not disclose sticking points in the talks.
The union says contracts have been extended twice before in the nearly 40 years of state employee collective bargaining - in 1984 and 2008 - before resolutions were reached.