LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The head of state government’s largest union says Gov. Dave Heineman is discriminating against rank-and-file state workers by proposing to give some leading state employees bigger raises.

Local media says that Heineman is designating some state employees as executive leaders. They get 4 a percent raise this year while most other state workers get 2 percent.

Nebraska Association of Public Employees union executive Julie Drake Abel says it’s despicable and damages employee morale.

Executive leaders are defined as those who report to a director or deputy director and handle broad, complex issues. The governor’s spokeswoman says people with more responsibility should receive more pay

As many as 128 state employees could get the 4 percent raise. About 10,600 union employees will get 2 percent raises.