In September, faculty were notified that due to a financial situation, a special, one-time bonus would be given to all faculty, paid in two parts. We all received the October half, but today, 10 days before the second half is to be paid, we were notified that we're not getting it.
I used the first payment to replace the windshields of both vehicles and to purchase a set of tires for the truck, two expenses that I had put off about as long as I could without endangering myself or other drivers. I was going to use the second payment to purchase a plane ticket back east, but then decided to stay home this year and put my time, energy and financial resources into a few chores that need doing.
Am I glad that I did not spend the money! I know people who made down payments on new cars, who made some major furniture purchases, and who made more expansive holiday travel plans because the money was a done deal. Now, they cannot cancel what they bought in October with the first half, and still have to pay for it, but the money won't be there as promised.
I imagine that there is going to be a tremendous uproar at work tomorrow as this message was sent in an email after the close of the workday. Sure, it's easy to say don't spend money you don't have, but this was a done deal. No one ever imagined that it either could -- or would -- be withheld 10 days before distribution.
Wow. Never saw it coming.
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2 comments:
If there is written evidence of the "done deal" the teachers should consider talking to a lawyer about a class-action lawsuit. It will do two things: a) scare the system into realizing it can't promise things without delivering them and b) show the system that teachers are not the perennial pushovers it has always taken them for.
It is about time that all of America, but California in particular, learns that education needs to come first and be the last place to cut funding. And that education starts with the teachers.
You were smart not to do anything without having the money in-hand first. After all of the retirement fund troubles, the last thing you needed was another money problem. While we or Mindy would have been happy to see you over the holidays, I'm glad you didn't end up in a mess over it.
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