Unions representing hundreds of workers have reached a settlement for back wages owed from earlier this month when the cash-strapped city of Scranton temporarily slashed pay to the federal minimum wage.
 
Under the deal reached Saturday the city will repay the missing wages with 6-percent interest by August 17th. The Times-Tribune of Scranton reports that deadline can be pushed back if the city doesn't get aid offered by the state before August 16th.
 
Mayor Chris Doherty cut the pay of nearly 400 workers to $7.25 per hour for their July 6th paychecks. Doherty said at the time the city didn't have enough cash on hand to meet its full payroll obligation.
 
Doherty and city council are trying to resolve a stalemate over how to fix the city's finances.