I’m not being paid correctly

[ThePerkyCoralPoet]

I have been checking my pay for the last year, I’ve not been paid on the main pay scale. I work for
an academy. I’m paid £33804 per annum. But I should be on £38,034. I’ve looked at my last few payslips and I’m not sure who to raise this with?

I know it sounds stupid but I hadn’t actually checked this sooner as I was given a new contract when I was given a TLR and that had the new pay rate on there. Therefore Im assuming that this has been checked and my academy just pay us below the average? I’m planning on contacting my unions too, is there anything they’ll be able to do?

That sounds odd. How much is your TLR? Are you a qualified teacher?

Our Headteacher writes to us every year confirming our point on the pay scale. It should also be on your pay slip.

Definitely contact your union.

First stop should be the bursar with your contract. If you're in an academy though, they can set their own pay scales so you might be out of luck.

The union won't be able to do anything if your pay is what you agreed to.

I think this is the issue! As it’s an academy I believe they have set their own pay scale.

Then there is nothing you can do. If you're being paid what your contract says, that's an end to it.

Check but if they are using their own lower pay scale I would be making preparations to leave ASAP.

Ah, well I’m best leaving it there then.

I will be leaving in January, hence why I wanted to clarify whether they may owe me money.

Definitely check. Sounds like a good decision. Academies have a lot to answer for. Surely any changes in the pay scale offered should have been highlighted and discussed with staff when they were changed? I think many academies are awful.

You need to check your contract and also what the situation is regarding the pay scales. It's definitely worth checking OP! You may have been significantly underpaid. £33,804 with a TLR isn't very much.

£33,814 was MPS 3 last year for example, so you're paid less than MPS 3 with a TLR?! www.nasuwt.org.uk/advice/pay-pensions/pay-scales/pay-scales-england.html

Oh hi, ForOliveShaker 👋

Whats that? I dont understand.

Yes!

Checked contract. Nothing can be done, other than the fact im being hugely underpaid!

You're not being underpaid though. You're being paid what you were told you'd be paid.

Yes, I just meant in relation to the current scales that most employers are using.

I suggest that you familiarise yourself with the STPCD and your new contract before you start your new job. It's worrying that you didn't know that you were employed under different terms

We were told post strike we would be paid against the new rates. We were then promised at another point that we would be paid against the new rates. On both occasions it hasn’t happened. I’m going by the information provided to us in all staff briefings and also from the union rep feedback in relation to pay changes.

If you had a local strike, and the strike was resolved by agreement with the unions on that basis, then you absolutely do have a case.

Great. Thank you😊

Was it a local strike then? Because if it was I am very surprised that your union haven't already been involved in making sure you're being paid the agreed amount. Which union are you in?

Definitely approach your union! Especially if you've been out on strike over this!

For your next post, please make sure you know the rates of pay before you take up your post. I know discussing money can be difficult, but it's so important! (Found this out from my own bitter experience and haven't been doing shy since!)