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Some teachers didn’t get pay
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Posted on May 11 2020
Contrary to news that all furloughed Public School System teachers and staff received their salaries for pay period 8, a few have complained that they have yet to receive any payments.
According to a high school teacher who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity, they were informed by PSS administration last Thursday that they would be receiving their owed wages for pay period 8, for regular 80 hours of work. However, as of last Saturday, several furloughed PSS staff reportedly have yet to receive their wages.
“I was ecstatic upon hearing this news. Finally, it was a start for us to receive the salaries we were owed. As you know, we haven’t been paid since the government shut down all non-essential departments,” the individual said. The teacher added that colleagues experienced the same thing. They tried to give it time but, as of Saturday, they still had not received anything.
“It’s saddening. I know many are suffering, including us. Mother’s Day is coming up and we won’t even get to prepare even a small meal for our families. I hope we receive this payment soon. We’ve waiting too long, we deserve it,” the teacher said.
Saipan Tribune tried to obtain comments from Education Commissioner Dr. Alfred Ada yesterday but he was unavailable to answer questions.
According to Saipan Tribune archives, over 800 PSS teachers and personnel were reportedly paid their salaries for pay period 8 after PSS received over $1 million from the CNMI government last Thursday. Ada had said that teachers and personnel were paid 80 hours. Pay period 8 was the first full missed payroll after the government shut down as a result of COVID-19.
PSS still owes its locally funded employees two pay periods, 9 and 10. However, PSS is expecting to pay off this remaining amount once it receives the money allotted to PSS under the CARES Act.
Finance Secretary David DLG Atalig said last Thursday that $1.3 million was transferred to PSS last Wednesday to cover the last two pay periods.
Despite the shortage of funds, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres said he worked with the Department of Finance to leverage existing local resources to cover PSS salaries.
