Pay raise

I opened the envelope expecting a check. Instead, I was met with something much better. A letter from one of the colleges I work for stating that all interpreters were receiving a pay raise across the board. Because I do not have any state or national certifications yet, I am at the bottom rung receiving a $10 an hour raise as opposed to my more skilled and credentialed colleagues who received a $15 an hour raise. So be it! I'll take the $10 raise.

I waited a day, reading carefully over all the points in the contract, then signed it and happily sent it on it's way. Finally, I was receiving my due payment for a job well done! Because the original hourly rate was the lowest pay rate in the area, I was ecstatic to finally be closer to par with the rest of the interpreting world.

A few days later, I receive yet another skinny white envelope with one brief letter which stated, "I am sorry to inform you but all interpreters who are not state or nationally screened will not be paid the previous pay raise, but rather will be paid X amount ($5/hr less)." That was it. No explanation. No new contract. Nothing.

Immediately, my blood begin to boil. You would think I would be grateful for just the $5/hr raise, but I felt cheated. I felt disrespected. Someone was breaking their vow with me and I didn't like it!

I read the letter to my husband and voiced my frustration.

"What should I do? I should e-mail 'so and so', shouldn't I?"

"No, you can't e-mail her right now! Just wait! Think about it. You can't e-mail someone while you're mad."

He was right. So I went to bed and stared at the ceiling while I fumed. And I thought about it for two days. I had signed a contract, hadn't I? Yes, I had. I am entitled to the $10/hr raise. Yes, yes I am.

So, tonight I have drafted two e-mails. One, the brief version basically stating "You will honor the contract that both you and I have signed." And the other one a more elaborate version of the first stating the same idea with a little more fluff such as "Let me remind you that I am screened in other states, etc." When my husband gets home I'll read both to him and hopefully he can help me decide which is most professional and direct without being rude and burning bridges.

Am I confronting this issue in the right manner? I don't know. I believe I should stand up for myself, and if the outcome is unsatisfactory, I can always choose not to contract with them for next semester.