AIBU?
to think if the contract is signed by everyone, they shouldn't be able to lower payment?
flyingspaghettimonster · 29/04/2011 15:35
Husband got messed around a lot over his teaching assignment for the summer semester (he's a grad student so the only income we get is his teaching assistantship - so every semester he has to have a teaching assignment).
They gave the Evolution class he had been promised to somebody else, after he had allowed his usual Genetics course class go to a friend who asked if he could have a go at it... this meant for a while we thought we were going to be screwed with no summer pay whatsoever. Then the university offered him a TA doing the Intro Bio lab and the contract stated $6,000 for pay. We were surprised as summer pay is notoriously crap and we usually get a measly $3,000 to live on over the summer, which isn't doable. Well, he signed it, all the necessary folks signed it and it was handed in a few days ago.
He just had it returned and was asked to initial next to a section that says he will be paid $4,500 instead.
He thinks IABU to ask him to find out what the legalities are before just going ahead and signing it. $6,000 would be enough for us to live on over the summer as it is about what we get the rest of the year, $4,500 would be a struggle (but is obviously better than normal so not horrific)...
What would you do? He is worried if he makes any fuss they could potentially not sign him for a TA in the Autumn Semester... I agree he shouldn't make any trouble, but still think maybe he should point out that it is the difference between a living wage for his family of five and that he thought a contract was legally binding?
Am I talking bollocks?
gallicgirl · 29/04/2011 16:02
Don't know how it stands in the US but I would guess that in the UK it's legally binding. However, you would have to sue for specific performance in order to get the disputed amount.
Is there someone like the Better Business Bureau who can help with advice?
It's a difficult situation though if he's not a permanent employee.
HecateQueenOfTheNight · 29/04/2011 16:17
sounds like someone made a mistake initially and now they want him to agree to take less, hence initialing the correction.
If he doesn't then I suppose they'd have to stick to the contract, wouldn't they? and pay him the $6,000
but you'd better make it last because I bet it'd be the last work he ever did for them!
He should certainly ask them about it though.
HecateQueenOfTheNight · 29/04/2011 16:19
oh - I am not a lawyer, it just seems logical to me that they'd need his agreement to change terms on a contract he'd already signed.
And human nature being what it is, they may not hire him again if he insisted on 6. People can be like that.
But I don't want to make you think I am speaking with any professional knowledge.
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