Hi ,

GDOE Pay Raises

How bad is the teacher pay on Guam? About $15,000 behind, on average. The last pay raise in 2014 was a wage compression, meaning the entry level teachers saw the most gains while teachers who stayed in the profession saw a measly five cent increase for the whole year. This means the last real raise was about 20 years ago. To see where Guam is based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2020), visit https://gftunion.com/pay-comparison/. Most states are raising pay for support staff and educators by over 5% this year to keep up with inflation, so our gap widens.

Promises made by the Governor’s office say that GDOE is next for a pay adjustment. The Guam Daily Post wrote Speedy action on public safety pay hike, while educators wait for parity that highlights the need to raise the wages and salaries of everyone involved in GDOE. Kudos to the Governor for taking care of our public safety officers. Now, it is time to take care of those who take care of our children and build our future. GDOE teachers and support staff are some of the most underpaid professions in Guam compared to the rest of the nation. The disparity gets worse every year. The Guam Legislature did their part by providing funding to conduct a study, and the Governor can take immediate action. RAISE. THE. WAGE. NOW.

GDOE Teachers’ Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)

The current CBA is good, but it is not perfect. If you have recommendations for change, please email sharma@gftunion.com your concerns. The focus should be on policies and procedures that support teacher retention and student learning. The CBA will be in place for at least 5 years once negotiated. So far, the changes include:

1.     Due dates for grades.

2.     Prohibition against hybrid teaching. Use one model of learning only.

3.     Counseling concerns (as mentioned in grievance outcome)

4.     Address workload expectations.

5.     Dress code (scarfs, hats, and other items that some administrators prohibit).

6.     Timelines to provide input on standards and grading practices.

Announcement: AFT Convention 2022 Delegate Call for Nominations

The 2022 American Federation of Teachers Convention will be held July 14-17, 2022, in Boston.

This 87th biennial convention is the most important policy-making body of the federation. The vitality and democracy of the union depend upon participation in the convention by delegates from all affiliates in good standing. Important resolutions, constitution and bylaws amendments, as well as the election of the AFT president, secretary-treasurer, executive vice president, and 43 vice presidents, will be in the hands of delegates from each state.

Candidacy forms will be available on the gftunion.com website and at the GFT Office on Friday, January 21, 2022, 8 a.m. to Friday, February 4, 2022, 5 p.m. Election day is on March 19, 2022. GFT can seat 19 (unofficial count) members for the Convention. Candidates that receive the greatest plurality will be elected. Criteria for travel reimbursements include at least two of the following: 1. involvement with negotiations; 2. attended two GFT General Membership meetings in the last three years; 3. attended two GFT Executive Council meetings in the last three years; 4. and served on a committee representing GFT. Expectations, promissory note forms, and more information are available at the GFT office prior to the candidacy period.