NASHVILLE (AP) — Gov. Bill Haslam has refused to grant pay raises to hundreds of state workers who have been disciplined in the past year, and he said anything short of good performance doesn't deserve higher pay.

The 1.6 percent increases for about 42,000 executive branch workers took effect July 1.

Haslam told The Associated Press after a Thursday ribbon cutting at Tims Ford State Park near Winchester that he is "confident the majority of legislators would agree that raises should be for good performance." He said he was told about 100 employees were affected.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports the governor and top officials excluded employees who have "been demoted, suspended or received more than one written warning in the past year."

Tennessee State Employees Association leaders describe the action as "mean-spirited" and said legal action is a possibility.

"The total dollars saved is insignificant," Haslam said. 'It's more the message. While we really wanted to give raises because employees had gone three years without one before this. But raises are for doing a good job."