Is it illegal for for your employer to give other employee's doing the same work a raise and not you?

Question

I work for a Local Government,(City), and they have been trying out a thing called MOU,Memorandum of Understanding, with some of the other Departments in the City. One of those Departments have workers with the same job title and job functions as I do. Those employee's were given salary increases, but employee's at my facility did not receive increases. We have been told for ten years now that we would have our chance to participate as well. We still haven't! Is it illegal for the employer to give raises to some employee's but not others, even though we have the same titles and do the same jobs?

We are in the state of NC, and no we are not Union. Everyone in that division got the same amount of increase, just for going along with the MOU.

Answer 1

In most places I'm sure it is legal. It happens all the time in the private sector and I"m sure there are disparities in wages in the public sector too.

Do you belong to a union? Typically AFSCME (sic) would get involved in such things if they represent employees in your city. But other than that, you're pretty much hosed-- I suppose you could contact the HR or ombusman if you have one.

Answer 2

No - you probably have a union matter at most. Being that the unions are responsible for the bargaining with the city in your case. I am surprise that your union are not organizing against management at this juncture of management unfairness. See wording "unfairness", that's all it is.


EDIT >>> since you don't belong to a union the only way to know your answer to that, would be to confront your supervisors or above them. I hope the best work out for you - I mentioned union because I currently work for the State where I live. All government workers are involved in a union, who represent us in the negotiations of pay increments and benefits.

Answer 3

No, it's not illegal. Salary increase is indeed based on personal performance and achievement. But i guess you can bring this matter out to your manager/boss, telling him about how and why you should receive the salary increase. Otherwise, you will just keep waiting and who knows, it will never come. You can even work for another 20 years receiving the same salary and it's legal, as long as it's not below the government appointed minimum salary.

Answer 4

Raises are based upon individual achievment and performance, not job tittle or classification, technically it is not legal for you to know if your co-workers get a raise or not, that information is considered classified. But if you feel like you are not fairly being compensated for your work then you should ask your supervisor for a performance review.