Fueling up his state vehicle Tuesday at the state Department of Transportation garage in Stratford, George Huston speculated he could be among the thousands facing layoffs, should unions refuse the $2 billion worth of givebacks demanded by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and the General Assembly.

Huston, a seven-year employee of the Bridgeport Community Health Center, believes Malloy is unfairly swinging a “sledgehammer” at public workers, but he would rather have fewer benefits than no job.

“Something is better than nothing,” Huston said.

But a veteran state worker at the opposite gas pump, who would only identify himself as working for a “regulatory agency,” said he would not be similarly coerced into ratifying givebacks.

“One thing I’ve learned after 25 years with the state, you worry about yourself,” he said.

As the face-off between Malloy and labor negotiators intensified Tuesday, with the governor’s office announcing a first round of layoff notices in lieu of a deal, union members from around the region expressed frustration and anxiety.

A maintenance worker at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport said there is little rank-and-file employees can do.

“The rumors are all over, but we still have to go day to day,” he said.

Maria Vereb, a social worker in Bridgeport, said, “We are willing to give our fair share to help resolve the problem. (But Malloy) really needs to look at people in upper income brackets and a lot of corporations that pay no taxes at all.”

When Malloy in February held the first of 17 budget forums in Bridgeport, Vereb was there, questioning his $2 billion request from the same unions that helped elect the Democrat last November.

“It is a staggering figure,” said professor Mike Shea, who chairs the English Department at Southern Connecticut State University and is his union’s on-campus president. “It’s hard to imagine getting there.”

Shea, Vereb and others contacted Tuesday said union leaders have kept the details of negotiations quiet. There have been

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