The number of employees laid off at the University of Missouri increased by eight, to 181, in the weekly budgetary actions released Friday by MU Human Resource Services. Savings from layoffs total $7.5 million. On Thursday, the university opted not to fire its 150 union custodians and outsource the work to a custodial services contractor, despite what officials said was potential annual savings of $3 million. Employees placed on furlough — unpaid time off — increased by 36, to 3,634. Those savings total $4.4 million.
