SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Thousands of state workers converged on the state Capitol to ratchet up pressure on the Blagojevich administration for a new union contract before the current deal expires next week.

A new contract for more than 35,000 state employees represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal is still at an impasse after seven months of negotiations.

The current contract expires June 30. If a new deal isn’t reached by then, it would be the first time that state workers would be without a labor contract.

Workers rallied at the Capitol on Monday before marching to a Springfield hotel for more negotiations.

The governor’s office won’t specify what’s holding up a contract. Union officials say the administration wants workers to pay much more for health care and pension benefits.