hi all. i am on the teacher's contract and am therefore part of the union. since i started at this school i haven't taken any lunch breaks because i simply have not had the time. basically i am entitled to two 40 minute breaks, one as a "prep" period and the other as a lunch period. the school has 8 periods during the day and so i only get paid for 6 because theoretically i am supposed to be on break for two. i met with the president of the union and she told me that i am entitled to these breaks. i don't really see the need for a prep period but i would like to take a lunch break every now and then. she told me that if i am not taking my breaks i am entitled to submit a form for overtime pay where i would get paid about $30 per break, so this adds up to about $300 extra per week. the truth is i would rather just take the money than take the breaks (thanks to my measly salary, even on the teacher's contract). my gripe is that NOBODY told me about this and i have worked for over a week now at the school and haven't submitted any forms so i feel like they owe me money. now my questions are:
1. is anybody else part of a teacher's union?
2. does anybody take breaks throughout the day? and, if so, how do you reconcile this with the fact that students may need you and you may not be in the office or even in the school during this time?
3. what do you think i should do? take the breaks? or take the money? and should i bring up to the administration that they owe me back pay for the all the days that i've only been getting paid for 6 periods but really have worked through 8?
