new teacher articles

Paycheck problems? Tell the UFT

Aug 13, 2009 12:10 PM

If you begin work on the first day of school and you are on payroll, you should receive your first check on Sept. 15. If you do not receive a paycheck that day, see your payroll secretary about getting an emergency check. If you are not on payroll but begin working within the first few days of school, you may also be eligible for an emergency check.

Do new teachers experience serious delays and foul-ups in getting paid correctly or on time? It’s been known to happen.

But these problems are fewer than they used to be. That’s because the UFT won passage of a state law that requires the city to pay you in a timely fashion or owe you 6 percent interest on any late payments. That law has almost eliminated the Department of Education’s foot-dragging and cleared a huge backlog of applications for salary enhancements.

So, while short delays and errors are not unusual, there are steps you can take and, if necessary, ways to fight the system — and the UFT is there to help you do just that.

Here are some common situations new teachers face and what you can do:

You are not getting paid at all. First, make sure you have a file number. Without one, you will not be placed on the payroll. Then, check with your school secretary if you are on the payroll. It generally takes one pay period (half a month) to get a newly hired teacher on the payroll. If you need an emergency check before a regular check arrives, see your chapter leader for instructions.

You are not getting paid for a differential or prior service. Remember that you must apply for these salary enhancements and should do so within six months of qualifying for each differential. So check that you have submitted the appropriate applications and all required documentation. If your application is in, it will take a bit of time to see the increase in your paycheck, but this should not take an inordinately long time. And, if your application was in within six months of qualifying, you will receive any money owed you retroactive to your date of eligibility.

You think your paycheck is wrong. If you think your paycheck is incorrect, see your school payroll secretary and report the problem to your chapter leader. For further help, call your UFT borough office and ask to speak to a salary representative.