HARTFORD (AP) — If unionized state employees don't ratify a tentative labor concession deal in the coming weeks, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy says there will be massive layoffs — substantially more than the 4,700 he threatened last month.

The agreement reached between Malloy and the union leaders is expected to save the state $1.6 billion, money needed to balance the two-year, $40.1 billion budget. If the deal isn't ratified, Malloy says programmatic cuts will have to be made.

Malloy said Thursday that would mean the administration would have to "reach very deeply, well past people employed 10 years or more" when considering whose job to eliminate.

The approximate 45,000 unionized state employees are currently reviewing tentative agreement. Some have posted comments on union websites, criticizing the deal and urging colleagues to vote no.