Plans to institute massive layoffs in two state departments will go forward unless union leadership agrees to reopen their contracts in order to find savings, Gov. Chet Culver said Wednesday.

capitol domeLast week, 36 state agencies submitted preliminary budget reduction plans with the goal of saving the state $565 million in FY2010. On Wednesday, Culver approved plans for 28 agencies and modified six others. In addition, all non-union executive branch employees will be forced to take seven days without pay between now and the end of the fiscal year.

However, two agencies – the Department of Corrections and the Department of Public Safety – did not get their plan approved. Those departments forecast the deepest layoffs, with the DOC projecting more than 500 jobs eliminated. Culver called those layoffs unacceptable because of the risk they pose to public safety and is asking the three labor unions that represent workers in those departments to reopen their contracts.

“We are going to cut $565 million one way or another,” Culver said, later adding: “It’s how do we arrive to that number, whether that is layoffs or some alternative to layoffs.”

If union leaders are unable or unwilling to renegotiate their contracts, the layoff plans will go forward as originally planned, Culver said.

“I’ll respect their decision either way,” he said.

The three unions in question all have contracts with executive branch employees. That includes American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 61, which has about 13,000 members; the State Police Officers Council, with about 650 sworn officers and game wardens; and the Iowa United Professions with 3,000 members, including social workers and corrections counselors.

Union leaders must let the governor know by Nov. 6 if they plan to renegotiate or if the state should implement the lay off plans as proposed by department heads last week.

Danny Homan, president of AFCME Council 61, said the union has agreed to meet with the governor to begin holding discussions for the sole purpose of reducing layoffs. However, Homan said he will have no public comment on any of the discussions being held between the AFSCME and the Culver until that process is concluded.

Culver echoed that remark, saying negotiations will be done in private and not disclosed to the media.

“Everything is on the table,” Culver said. “There are a lot of different things we could discuss if the unions agree to that. The bottom line is, what is an alternative to a layoff? That could mean a lot of different things.”

With the 34 already-approved budget cut proposals, the state will save around $520 million, Culver said, and result in 180 layoffs and the elimination of 229 open positions. The cuts were ordered earlier this month in response to lower than expected revenue projections.