6/11/09: The first phase of the merit pay settlement, which occurred a few months ago, involved the distribution of $2.7 million in lump sum amounts to affected employees based on their service dates, the merit pay raises they received and, in the case of employees over the age of forty, the date on which they turned forty.

The second phase of the settlement, salary adjustments, will show up in employees’ second pay check in June. If some or all of the salary adjustment would result in the employee’s salary exceeding the salary grade maximum, the excess amount will be paid to the employee as a one-time lump sum in that second pay check in June.

The actual amounts of the adjustments are as follows.

Group 1 (African Americans):

Hired on or after 1/1/06 and before 1/1/07:            $266

Hired on or after 1/1/05 and before 1/1/06:            $613

Hired on or after 1/1/04 and before 1/1/05:            $1069

Hired on or after 1/1/03 and before 1/1/04:            $1669

Hired before 1/1/03:                                            $2482

Group 2 (Over 40):

Hired on or after 1/1/06 and before 1/1/07:            $194

Hired on or after 1/1/05 and before 1/1/06:            $428

Hired on or after 1/1/04 and before 1/1/05:            $710

Hired on or after 1/1/03 and before 1/1/04:            $1053

Hired before 1/1/03:                                            $1472

The amount of adjustment will be reduced by 10% for each contribution year from 2003 through 2007 in which the employee received a three step merit increase.