On no ! That is a revolting discovery. How can they do that? For real, I'm trying to wrap my head around taking a position that is supposed to pay more, then get there and they say they can't pay more.
... and yes, you can go backwards. The position I took a couple of months ago is one pay grade lower than I was in, but they didn't offer me less money once they wanted me to come over. To me that was like a raise, a "supposedly" easier job, with no pay cut. I was surprised and delighted.
I hope you do get the rise that you expected, but then, going back and not working for Java might be like a rise too.
They are always like this. They try and stiff you for as long as possible and then when you hassle them enough they eventually and grudgingly (I hope) come up with the goods.
They are bad in all aspects. I had a promo once for a better job and they started giving me the money but wouldn't let me leave my old job for a further 4 months, they just cant get any of it right!
I can't quote laws or anything like that, but all of ours goes through our HR and I "think" it would not be legal for them to do that here (at least for now) I have always started whatever new raise I was offered from day 1 when I changed positions.
If there is anybody that can badger them into keeping their word, it will be you. ha ha Maybe you should only do the amount of work that you feel you are paid for. LOL.... no raise, no 100% effort.
That's the sneaky bit. They create the job aquisition then they get it approved which can take months. During those months they have a to and fro with HR on the money involved but they also hire at the same time at risk and that's how you never know how much extra dough it's going to be! They have a rule that you have to go up two steps on the scale minimum so you know you aren't going to get totally stiffed but you have to ride them like a pony just to make sure!