Know Your Rights: Salary

Know Your Rights: Salary

Your salary is calculated based on your level of education and your years of service. The Department of Education/UFT contract for your title contains a listing of salary schedules that take effect with each negotiated pay increase. These salary schedules are also posted on the UFT homepage, under Resources for UFT Members. Call a salary rep in your UFT borough office if you need help interpreting the schedule.

Particularly if you are a new teacher, check that you have been given credit for all the educational credits you’ve earned and all the experience you have. Note that you may be able to get salary credit for teaching experience elsewhere or other relevant experience. Longevities (payments tied to years of service) apply only to pedagogical service in New York City public schools.

A new five-year longevity for teachers, paraprofessionals and other titles was created in the 2006 contract (effective May 19, 2008). The new longevity is added to the annual salary from the end of the member’s fifth year on the job until the member reaches the next time threshold — for example, 10 years for pedagogues — when other longevity payments kick in.

If you have any questions regarding your salary step, differentials or longevity payments, you should ask your payroll secretary to assist you. If you believe you are being paid incorrectly, you should call a salary representative in your UFT borough office. If necessary, a salary grievance will be filed on your behalf.

You can accumulate the credits you need to qualify for salary differentials by, among other ways, taking courses through the UFT Teacher Center. To find out about the current course offerings, you can read the course catalog posted on the home page of the UFT Web site. Click the UFT Courses button. Or you can call 1-212-475-3737.

Teachers, other pedagogues and paraprofessionals are paid semimonthly, on or about the first and the 16th, by check — which is delivered to your school — or by direct deposit. Starting in September 2007, all newly hired UFT-represented educators are supposed to be paid through direct deposit, but members still have to enroll. If when you start working there is a delay in placing you on the payroll, you can apply for an emergency check to tide you over. Talk to your payroll secretary. Because of a law the UFT secured years ago, the DOE pays interest on delayed payments.

On the last day of school, teachers receive five checks or five check stubs for direct deposit: one for the end of June, two for July and two for August.

Throughout the school year, teachers can also apply for “per-session” activities that are done either before school, after school, on weekends or holidays, or during the summer. If you apply for and are accepted for such an activity, you are paid at the current per-session rate of $41.98 per hour (as listed in the contract).

Original Article: http://www.uft.org/news/teacher/rights/yoursalary/