Pay cut

[Difcolour99]

I got this job as a teacher only because there were no other candidates. I have been teaching in the same school for four years but on a temporary basis. Whenever there was an interview for a permanent position, they would give it to local candidates. Finally when they had to appoint me, they cut me to 75% pay scale. They are stating they would appoint full pay teachers to the same department in future. Is this not racial discrimination?

75% pay scale?
Not sure what that means.
If you believe that you've been discriminated against on the grounds of race, you must contact your union immediately.

Are you in the UK? I've never heard the phrase "full pay teacher" before.

In England, teacher pay is generally related to experience (and to any additional responsibilities). With four years experience you wouldn't expect to be earning only 75% of what other classroom teachers in the school earn. That's assuming that you are a qualified teacher. Unqualified teachers will earn quite a bit less.

This could be discrimination. Have you asked the school to explain your pay? What was their response?

Are you a qualified teacher? I know someone on a reduced pay grade but she does not have QTS so is on an unqualified scale

I am a qualified teacher with MSc first class honours and 4 years teaching experience. What I meant by full pay teachers is teachers in the same department who will be on full time payment right from the start of their employment. Which is what the school is telling me ie they will continue to make such employments in future in our department while keeping me on reduced hours ( which I haven’t requested) The reason they are quoting is that they have a tight budget. ( Which interestingly seems to affect only my pay scale!)
I feel I am being discriminated against. My teaching skills are considered very good and the students and other teachers like me very much.

I don’t know who is behind these decisions. Board members or governors? I was under the impression that my union can only act if it something illegal. But school is arguing that this is for budget reasons!

How do I make my case heard?

Do you mean they offered you a part-time contract of 75% (e.g. 75% of a normal teaching timetable)? Was the job you applied for advertised as such, or was it advertised as a full-time role?

If it was advertised as a 75% contract, and you accepted it, then there isn't really much you can do. They're entitled to advertise for whatever they want, and you're entitled to apply for the post or not, depending on your wishes. If they don't have enough hours in that subject to offer a full-time contract, then it is likely they'll advertise for a contract that suits their needs.

The job was advertised as full time. But when they realised that there were no other candidates for the interview ( unlike the previous 2 or 3 occasions where they immediately gave the job to local candidates) they called me two days before the interview and told me that they were cutting it to 75% and I could either take it or leave! They would never do it a local person, period. I am not a fool to believe that. They told me it is because of their tight budget. This so called budget which is only tight around me surprisingly doesn’t seem to affect any other new appointments.

My question is should I report all this to the union at least for their records or should I take even higher legal action? Or even bring it to media attention? There is a lot of racism against teachers in the workplace, I am aware of that. My parents were always against me going into teaching profession. I enjoy teaching and I am good at it. That is why I chose this profession.

I am not worried about losing teaching post altogether. I am prepared to expose these wrong practices anywhere. I can always get into another profession.
Like my mother put it “ You are promoting racial discrimination by not fighting against it!” I can see the school telling an Asian/ coloured teacher in the future “We had a teacher from different ethnic background who worked for 0.75 scale here. He didn’t complain. So why can’t you do the same?”

So you applied for a full time job and were only given 0.75 FTE? Are you working full time? Who is doing the other 25%?

Currently they are giving me some extra hours while keeping the job as 75%. That is what they used to do for the last 3 years, using me as a temporary worker until last year and now as a mop to cover other people’s absences/ leave etc using upto the other 25%. Recently when I asked if they would consider me for full time work, they refused. At the same time they are telling me that all new appointments will be full time unless they request reduced hours. Then apparently I can mop up their left overs!

But is that because there isn't a full time post on your subject?

No. As I keep repeating, there are full time posts being filled in my department but I am exclusively excluded! Even my job was advertised as full time until they realised that there were no other candidates for the interview. Then it suddenly became 0.75 !

Have you spoken to your union?

It seems very odd to me that there are are apparently multiply posts in your department which need repeatedly filling - but it's often easier to attach someone to full time than part time so that's probably why they will advertise that.

With respect, OP, your explanation of the situation has not been terribly easy to follow over your posts and pp are trying to help. The school's behaviour as you describe it is highly irregular.

I think it would be a good idea to consult your union regarding your suspicions of discrimination.

I contacted the union and they told me that there is definitely cause for concern here. So they are going to lodge a complaint and take it from there. It may not even be racial bias might be personal reasons like I am not very assertive and good at standing up for my rights.

Thank you for all your comments.

People seem determined to not 'understand' this post. The OP has said repeatedly, it was advertised as a full time job. No one else applied for the job, so she got it by default. They've now changed it from full time to part time (75%). When she's questioned this, she's been told to like it or lump it. It definitely sounds like discrimination. I'd go straight to your union. It's appalling you've been treated this way

Just seen your update, hope the union can help!