Actual salary lower than offer letter starting salary

[unavailable]

Started a new position recently (public sector). My offer letter stated a salary I was happy with. Only now, after starting the job have I received my contract - this states a lower salary than on the offer letter. When I queried this, I was told the original sum was pro rata, although it was not mentioned as being so in the letter. (30 hours per week as opposed to 37)

They have admitted this was a mistake, but are not open to any negotation/discussion. I am not happy, and feel I am being treated quite dismissively but not sure how to take this further. Could anyone advise?

Are you a member of a Union?

Yes, I am and will try to get hold of someone tomorrow

Well if it was a mistake I don't think you've got much grounds unless you want to give up the job
it wouldn't be fair for your coworkers who work 37 hours if you're paid the same for 30 hours

Did they contract you to work 30 hours? And then sent a letter confirming salary on a job they had hired you to do for 30 hours?

Blimey, is 37 the working week in the ps now? I've always calculated my pro-rata salary based on a 35 hour week

When I worked in ps, I was on a 36 hour contract - that was considered to be full-time. In my current occupation, I work 40 hours a week and that's part-time!

unavailable - they have admitted they made a mistake. Not sure what they can do about it. So consider if you can accept the job on the terms currently being offered, or if you have to turn the job down.

Yes, the 30 hours a week was stated in the offer letter. The job has numerous salary bands depending on qualifications and experience, and my offer in the lower middle so it certainly didnt seem odd.

I reckon your best bet is to get some proper advice from the union, re. the contractual nature of an offer letter. I don't think fairness to your colleagues comes into it TBH.
Sounds like a sucky situation though.

I accept it was a mistake, but if they had offered me the post on the correct pro rata rate, I would have asked to be put up a point or two on the scale. Now I have started I have not got that opportunity and they havent even said sorry!

You are unlikely to get anywhere suing them for breach of contract. It was clearly an error, the contract said one thing and due to probably an administrative error the letter omitted to say 'pro rata' and was therefore misleading.

Did you resign from a previous position on the basis of it being x salary or anything? Would you have declined the offer altogether if you had known the correct salary from the date of the offer letter? As the figure you have now been told is presumably within the salary range you were fully aware of when you applied for the position, you'd find it difficult to explain any loss as a result of the error.

Why have you now not got the opportunity to ask to be put up a point or two on the scale? Presumably you can ask, and make your case depending on what the criteria are for scales/points, and they can say yes or no?

Flowery - yes, I did resign from previous position. If they had originally advised of the correct pro rata salary and refused to negotiate around this I would have continued to look at other options.

If I resign I am very disadvantaged as I lose a significant amount of continuous service.

I have strongly been given a "no room for negotiation" message since the error came to light.

Does the letter say "subject to contract" or anything like that. Also did you start a new position without a contract....it could be argued that you accepted the terms of the contract by starting the new role.

What do you want to do then? (That sounds a bit brusque but it's not intended to be! :) Genuine question.)

Thanks to everyone for contributions.
We are in negotiations, and I think I should leave this thread here.