University of Hawai'i professors yesterday began a five-day ratification voting period on a new contract offer that includes a temporary 6.7 percent pay reduction until July 2011.

The vote will be taken online and ends Jan. 26.

The tentative agreement between the university and the University of Hawai'i Professional Assembly includes three lump-sum payments to reimburse professors for the money lost to the 6.7 percent pay cut and a 3 percent pay raise in 2013 and 2014.

The pay cut is for 18 months, starting this month. The lost pay will be restored beginning in August 2012.

University and union officials have remained silent about the details of the agreement since it was announced on Saturday, a day after a 6.67 percent pay reduction imposed by the university went into effect. Officials have said they are reluctant to talk about the agreement publicly until union membership ratifies the deal.

UHPA had filed a request for a temporary restraining order in Circuit Court to prevent the university from unilaterally imposing pay cuts. A hearing date was never scheduled.