GEA Advocacy at Work

​Have you ever wondered whether you should call GEA and ask for help? Your membership allows you to do so, and we are here for you to help you navigate different types of situations.  For example, many years ago, a teacher was hired in Granite School District.  After school had been in session for a bit, she looked at her paystub and realized she was being paid hourly instead of on the salary schedule.  Thank goodness she was a GEA member and called the office!  Once GEA heard what happened we were able to work with Human Resources (HR) to get her pay straightened out.  She received the back pay that was due to her, and the District made her financially whole with URS.

Fast forward to summer 2021, and this same teacher met with HR to go over her retirement benefits.  She was surprised to learn that .21 years of service was missing in URS from her first year of teaching.  Even though she had worked her entire first year and was paid for it, she was told that she would either need to work the extra time or buy out that portion of the missing year. She made another call to GEA.
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Following the call, GEA asked HR to check their records for this teacher’s misfiled paperwork from her first year of employment.  It took a lot of digging around, but we are happy to let you know that HR found the documentation that indicated the teacher had indeed worked a full year her first year. HR was able to then contact URS and approve the full benefits the teacher is entitled to.  We are so glad this member allowed us to advocate for her and to help navigate this situation!