UAB announced Monday that more than 300 university staff members will be temporarily furloughed in an effort to offset significant financial losses due to COVID-19. UAB Medicine projects a $230 million loss through the end of September. Meanwhile, the university projects a $40 million loss.
The furlough will begin May 10 and last until July 31. The University System said the furlough period could be shorter or longer depending on the impact of the pandemic.
The furloughs affect staff that can’t work remotely. UAB President Ray Watts said this includes jobs like carpenters. Furloughed employees will be able to retain their benefits, according to the university.
“These actions are a reflection only of the harsh economic realities of the COVID-19 crisis, not a reflection of the value of UAB faculty and staff or their job performance. We are disappointed that this action has become necessary,” Watts said in a press release.
UAB also announced temporary salary cuts for many clinical faculty and hospital staff including:
Clinical department faculty at the School of Medicine will see an average pay cut of 7%. Senior leaders including department chairs will see a 10% cut. The other temporary pay cuts are on a sliding scale:
UAB leadership also faces pay cuts ranging from seven to 15%.
This news comes just days after the university system announced it would stop matching payments to voluntary 403(b) retirement plans through the end of September.
UAB says faculty and staff who want to support their colleagues are encouraged to give to the UAB Benevolent Fund, which is now being applied toward UAB’s Coronavirus COVID-19 Relief Funds.
Roughly 30% of Alabamians are fully vaccinated.
Two local environmental groups are appealing a Jefferson County Circuit Court’s recent decision to throw out the lawsuit against the Birmingham Water Works Board.
A drive-by shooting at Club Euphoria in west Birmingham left 21-year-old Lykeria Taylor dead and another male injured. Earlier that night, gunfire broke out at the club, leaving three others with non-life-threatening injuries.
Mayor Randall Woodfin and the CEO of Vulcan Park and Museum announced this week a series of events to celebrate Birmingham’s 150 anniversary.
Landing, an apartment rental company, will relocate it headquarters to Birmingham, creating more than 800 new jobs.
Over Memorial Day weekend, at least 26 shootings were reported in major cities across Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama. At least 10 people were killed and 17 others were injured. It was the latest example of rising homicides and gun violence across the Gulf states this year.
