By Katherine Gregg
Journal State House Bureau

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - - Having not yet reached final agreement with the state's unions on a pay-reduction plan aimed at averting shutdown days, Governor Carcieri is once again raising the possibility of large-scale layoffs.

His office issued a memorandum that Department of Administration Director Gary S. Sasse sent other agency directors on Monday that said: "While negotiations with the state's employee union have been productive, we have not as yet reached a final agreement. In addition, any final agreement is contingent upon ratification by the unions.

"Therefore, due to the serious fiscal challenges facing the state and the time necessary to prepare and implement layoffs, please proceed to submit your layoff lists by Wednesday, September 16, 2009 as previously instructed by the Budget Office.''

When the state's unions headed into court to try to block his announced plan to shutter state government for 12 days this year to save at least $17.3 million, Republican Carcieri declared his intent to begin sending layoff notices to 1,000 state workers.

Both the shutdowns and the layoffs would have been averted by the tentative agreement the administration struck with leaders of key unions late last week.