HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Both union leaders and members of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's administration voiced optimism Tuesday that rank-and-file state employees will eventually ratify a wide-ranging labor savings deal, now that the details have been publicly released.

The tentative agreement, which negotiators maintain will save Connecticut $1.6 billion over two years and billions of dollars more over the next two decades, includes changes to state employees' health care coverage, retiree health care plans, pensions, wages and longevity bonuses. In return, the two-year no-layoff promise made by former Gov. M. Jodi Rell in 2009 is extended for four more years.

Patrice Peterson, a union president and a teacher, predicted that the no-layoff extension will be crucial to persuading the approximate 45,000 unionized state employees to ratify the complicated benefits and wage changes over the coming weeks. She said the union leaders who make up the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition are committed to selling the tentative deal to their members.