Can the school district make me salaried, when I am paid hourly?
I work for a school district and we follow the school year calendar from July 1st through June 30. I work 52 weeks, 37.5 hours per week, and hourly paid, not salaried. The district is saying there are 27 pay periods, rather than the normal 26 pay periods, this 2011-2012 school year, and therefore, will be "streatching" out our pay accordingly and it will appear you will be paid less each pay (for me it's about $40 less every pay period)but at the end of the year, you will make the same as you would have at 26 pays.
My question is this: Is it legal for the district to pay me less each pay, thereby making me a "salaried" employee when I'm clearly not. I have not signed any contract stating I make x amount of money on an annual basis.
Please advise of any Michigan labor laws that might help in this situation.