Union Due Arrears - I was never notified
Today I noticed that I was being deducted union due arrears on my pay. I was not ever informed that there was an issue or that an amount was owing. In fact, before noticing this deduction on my pay, I don’t think I’ve ever spoken to either the pay centre or my union.
When I called the pay centre, I was told that I owed an amount of $1260.84 for a period in 2022-2023. I was not given any details on dates or timelines or any calculation whatsoever. When I asked for more information, I was told to submit a pay intervention request form, which I did.
What really bothers me here is that at no point was I contacted regarding the amount allegedly owing, the amount to be recovered, the recovery modalities or timelines, nor was I given an opportunity to review or contest the amount before recovery began. The amounts simply started being taken from my pay without any prior notice or discussion.
I also don’t understand how this mistake was even made in the first place. I have been in the PS for about 5 years. I came in straight into a permanent position and have not once changed positions or department. I went on mat leave in 2024, but that is after this alleged issue. So I’m not sure why they just didn’t take out these dues, nor why they let this accumulate to 1260.84$ before doing anything about it.
This leaves me a little perplexed. Is this standard practice? I’m terrified now that the pay centre is making mistakes on my pay and can just go ahead and pay themselves when they feel like an amount is due. And given the current climate, I can’t afford to have random deductions start showing up in my pay without factoring it in to my budget. Where do I go from here? How do I ensure this isn’t a recurring issue?