"Exactly how we solve that problem is something we've got to work with our members on," he said.

The final tally was 21,415 to 15,988 on the proposed changes to the SEBAC deal. Union members also voted on wage changes, including a three-year pay freeze, which subsequently failed as well.

Patrice Peterson, president of CSEA-SEIU Local 2001, one of the unions to approve the deal, said leaders are reviewing whether the SEBAC bylaws make sense considering the majority of rank-and-file members voted in favor of the failed deal.

Individual unions could also consider re-votes if enough members believe one is warranted and make a request. Some members who voted no have told their leaders they were misinformed about details of the agreement, particularly a voluntary health program that requires annual physicals and age-appropriate medical tests.

Leaders have to perform a political balancing act, however, and not offend those who voted against the deal.

"We respect those no votes," said Sal Luciano, executive director of AFSCME Council 4, which had five bargaining units vote yes and three vote no but still ultimately shot down the deal because of the size of the units that voted no.

But Luciano said the union leaders "have to use our creativity" to figure out a way to honor the wishes of the workers who voted yes.

The decision to table any action on the union vote comes as Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy says he's trying to reduce the number of layoffs needed to close the two-year, $1.6 billion budget gap that opened when state employees rejected the tentative agreement reached between his administration and union leaders.

Malloy has said that as many as 7,500 state employee layoffs would be needed to balance the state's two-year, $40.1 billion budget that's set to take effect on July 1 after the state's unionized workers rejected the tentative agreement reached between his administration and union leadership.

"I actually did some work over the weekend to try to lessen that number. I don't have a final number for you," Malloy told reporters following a speech to a business group in Stamford.

Kicking off his statewide "jobs tour," he said the state would feel "terrible discomfort" if 7,500 jobs were cut.

The governor has decided to take job cuts at the state's vocational technical high schools off the table, said his senior adviser, Roy Occhiogrosso. The governor also said he's looking at using attrition and not filling open jobs as a way to reduce the impact of layoffs.

Malloy reiterated on Monday that he will not renegotiate with the unions. Asked if the union leaders have reached out to him with an alternative plan in hopes of avoiding layoffs, Malloy said, "I've had no such discussions."

Occhiogrosso said if SEBAC "can figure out a way to get this agreement approved" Malloy would favor that over layoffs.

"That is not a process we control," Occhiogrosso said.

SEBAC leaders still have some time to come up with a solution. Given the various notification requirements in the union workers' contracts, Malloy has said many of the state employees would not be taken off the state's payroll until September. Occhiogrosso said notices likely won't begin to be issued until next week.

Livingston said he expects Malloy will issue the notices but is hopeful they will ultimately be rescinded.

"I think that we are all optimistic that we will find a solution," said Livingston, adding how it was an accomplishment to make it this far considering the governor was originally seeking $2 billion over two years from state employees.

Malloy has the ability, using his executive powers, to lay off a certain number of workers, but his adviser didn't disclose how many. Other job cuts, the adviser said, would require legislative action if Malloy proposed eliminating a particular program created by the legislature.

The governor has called the Democratic-controlled General Assembly back to Hartford for a special legislative session on Thursday to deal with the budget gap, which is about $700 million in the first year of the two-year plan. He has said it would be quicker if lawmakers simply granted him expanded budget-cutting authority to come up with the spending cuts necessary to balance the budget.

Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, R-Fairfield, said he doesn't believe Malloy will lay off 7,500 workers. He predicted the governor will send out notices but will negotiate again with the unions.

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Associated Press writer John Christoffersen contributed to this report from Stamford.