Employees Beware!

Actually what I mean is BE AWARE!

Dear Members -

As you probably know many employees have found discrepancies in their pay last year, some ending the school year with no final pay check or a greatly reduced final pay check. The district decided that it was the employee's fault because they had not checked their pay stubs carefully enough.

The fact that it was payroll who made the error in the first place was just not their problem. I have heard from a few other people that some actually got under paid as well, that is, they were shorted some money each pay period. This can add up fast - as little as $40 a pay period can equal over $1,000 a year.

So here is what I suggest you do, first find last years contract and see what it says you should be getting paid for the school year, next find one of last years pay stubs and look for the "Gross" pay that you were given for that pay period, Multiply that by 26, it should match the number on your contract. If it does, most likely you are OK, if it does not, then you need to find all your pay stubs, and check each gross pay, add them up and they should equal the amount on your contract. If it does, you are OK, if it does not, you need to get to Central Office ASAP and ask for the difference. Another thing to check is that if you are one of those who gets a large final check, it should equal 5 regular pay checks (the gross amount), if it does not...again, you need to figure out why and get to Central Office and get it straightened out. I would very much like to hear from you if you find any discrepancies, and I would like you to take a fellow member of NEA to accompany you on your visit to Central Office. Doing this is only exercising your rights to be paid what you are supposed to be paid, and Dr. Cockerham has already stated that failure to do our own checking makes it our fault for any difficulties later on. So please, check it out.

Email me here if you find a discrepancy. Also, as a member check to see if the proper deductions are being made for membership dues. We are having a heck of a time with Central Office and Payroll getting the correct dues deductions for our members. I know of several members who have never had deductions made...and we have shown Payroll, over, and over and over again the signed authorization for payroll deductions for membership dues, yet...some how or another, it does not get done. So we are going over the payroll deductions with a fine tooth comb, some of you may be hearing privately from me, asking for your help in getting payroll to do their job correctly...

Great job again on our election and I thank you for all your hard work and effort. Keep your head up, and your eyes on the ball we are making progress.

Brian