University Of Akron Will Restore Pandemic-Reduced Wages

The University of Akron is restoring employee wages cut due to financial trouble caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The salaries of administrators and staff earning more than 50-thousand dollars a year have been reduced since last July. The Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved restoring them to previous levels, effective Jan. 1.

University President Gary Miller said federal financial assistance and a revised budget forecast are allowing the move at the cash-strapped 150-year-old public university.

“I want to thank everyone for their shared sacrifice," Miller said. "We all appreciate the commitment to our university community and all the efforts that you’ve made to make this adjustment and adapt to these very trying times.”

Facing an estimated $65 million shortfall last summer, UAkron cut 178 jobs in a move estimated to save $16.4 million. The cuts included 96 union faculty members and 82 non-union faculty staff and contract workers, regardless of tenure. Another 64 university employees voluntarily retired.

On Wednesday, trustees did not take action on a tentative contract reached with the faculty union. A UAkron spokeswoman said that vote will wait until the union completes its ratification process and a special meeting will likely be called to vote on the agreement once it is finalized.

Copyright 2021 WKSU. To see more, visit WKSU.