Atlanta union leaders said Tuesday that any layoffs of city employees should include the same percentage of upper-level management as lower-paid workers.

Leaders of the 357-member Professional Association of City Employees said they suspect city officials will instead let go a higher percentage of non-supervisory employees to help balance a budget expected to have a $140 million shortfall.

PACE leaders complained during an emergency meeting Tuesday evening that department directors won't tell them how they are deciding whose jobs will be terminated.

"We want to know what's going on," union President Gina Pagnotta told the 30 union members who attended Tuesday's meeting. "It angers me that [the city] cannot tell us the [job] classifications."

Franklin said last week she is considering a "reduction in staff" to balance the budget for the 12-month fiscal year that begins July 1. The mayor is expected to release her proposed budget Thursday. Franklin's staff is considering 25 percent cuts to most city departments.

Aides to Mayor Shirley Franklin weren't available for comment late Tuesday.

Pagnotta said she and other union leaders met with Franklin's staff shortly after hearing the city was considering layoffs. She said the unions suggested the city agree to early retirements and furloughs to help balance the budget.

"Their response was [those ideas] weren't going to be enough," she said.

The unions do not have bargaining power with the city.

Union leaders say they've heard at least 500 city workers — out of more than 6,000 — will be laid off within the next week. Pagnotta said city officials told her the workers will get two weeks' pay and help filing for unemployment benefits, and will be told they cannot return to work the next day.

Pagnotta said the mood at City Hall is grim.

"There's been no smiles. There's been no gleefulness," she said.

Pagnotta said she wants the city to give workers more time before the layoffs.

"We feel, as professional employees, they should have been given at least 30 days," she said.