my story: new in the office

I just relocated to a new city to join my hu*****and. I joined a small firm 2 month ago. There is only one person is same level (project architect) as me now. She is from Argentina, she seemed very friendly and warm to me, saying she would like help me with any question. Until today, I found some email print on the project binder. Here is the story.

As I need to transfer H1, so my H1 application and salary is posted in the kitchen. So is hers as she needs to extend her H1. She has been in this firm 3 years. Mine salary is 61k, hers is 50k. I moved from east cost to middle west. I made 60k in my last job. I tried negotiating to get 65k for this offer without success; they said they would give me a raise at 5 month. Anyway, the firm partner compiled all the documents on her desk into the project binder. I was going through this binder; I found this confidential email in it. I hope she is not on purpose. The is email is one principle send to all partners and principles, he said in email he had a talk with this lady from Argentina, (as she saw my salary, she is very angry that she is underpaid all these years). She told that principle she is not happy with her salary, and she is ahead of me for credentials, as she has 3 more years US work experience, she has 6 years degree in top school in Argentina and she has better communication skill than me. She said she does same job as me, hers title is same title.

This whole comparison really makes me very uncomfortable. She has very right to ask for more money, Honestly, I think her 50k is too low also. I can understand her anger and I felt sorry for her. I guessed she had applied GC, the firm knows she can not leave and they are taking advantage of it. But making me as a target is not wise. Why just say " I am good and I deserve the better pay" Comparing the years of work experience and degree is really silly, also communication skills, this talk happened that I just started to work for a week. Of course, I need to improve communication skill as a foreigner, so is she. It is very judgmental to get this conclusion for her in just a week. Even she has better communication, so what? The salary discuss should be between she and employer about market value, not 3-person game. I am pretty sure I could find a better paid job if I had not move in such a rush to join my hu*****and, and I also can find it now, Is this normal when people try to negotiate with employer and they will badmouth others? (I never did that, I knew everyone’s salary in my last job as I could access server) The principle said in the end of email that he is not in the position that he can decide if her job is same as mine and if she is as good at it as me, partner should resolve this issue with her. I have the impression from the email that they think her ability and role is not that good, and she is not taking project architect responsibility.

I had lunches with her form time to time. She asked me before, if I am satisfied with my salary, I said it is OK, considering I am moving from the east coast, I can make more if I change in the same area where I were. She also told me she is angry and she is underpaid, She talked with principle and partners about it, I did not expected that she talked about me in my back like that AT ALL. You never know. I will not trust her, this is a good lessen for me.

Thanks for reading.