By Katherine Gregg
Journal State House Bureau

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The leaders of the largest state employees union will decide Tuesday whether to seek a membership vote on a proposed agreement with the Carcieri Administration trading no-pay workdays for shutdown days and layoffs.

The meeting of the presidents of the locals within Council 94, American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees was to have taken place at noon Monday.

In a statement issued Monday morning, Council 94 president J. Michael Downey said the union didn't get the proposal in writing until late Friday, and after reviewing it over the weekend determined that "we must meet with state officials to work on the language and details of the proposal.''

"We will contact the administration representatives to arrange a meeting today,'' he said.

The pact would essentially take any further discussion of layoffs, shutdown days and furloughs off the table for the remainder of the Carcieri administration. But it would require all of the state's 12,970-plus workers to work eight days without pay between now and June 30, and four days during the next fiscal year that begins on July 1.

The workers could recoup some of the lost wages in cash or bonus vacation days when they leave state service. But each union appeared to have a different interpretation of what the state was offering, with Council 94 thinking it was eight compensatory days of vacation or pay, and other unions believing it was at least 10 days.

The pact would also delay by six months a 3 percent raise scheduled for next July.

Tuesday's meeting has been scheduled for 3 p.m. at Council 94 headquarters on Charles Street, North Providence.