Southeast Services entered into a contract to provide some of the custodial services required by UT, mostly on the agricultural campus, in 1980. In 1983 it assumed substantial responsibilities for the main campus, and in 1989 the contract was renewed and enlarged to include over 65 UT buildings, resulting in the elimination of 31 filled positions. Southeast Services was required to hire any workers who could not be absorbed into other UT jobs, but the salary was less ($4.75 beginning wage at UT; $3.75 at Southeast) and benefits differed. Additional buildings were added to the outsourced services list as custodial positions became vacant.