Dear ,

General Membership Meeting

February 26, 2024, 6:00 PM at the GFT Union Hall (Mangilao)

GFT Union Officers Election 2024

February 23, 2024, from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM at the GFT Office (Mangilao).

Contested Seats

GDOE Teachers' Chairperson

Uncontested Seats

GDOE Teachers' Vice-Chairperson: Joanie La Ville

GDOE Recorder: Francisca Blanco

GCC Support Staff Chairperson: Kenneth Bautista

Alutiiq Chair (DODEA Bus Drivers) Chairperson: Albert Perez

Each exclusively recognized government agency can appoint a chairperson, vice-chairperson, and recorder to represent them in the Executive Council. If you are interested in fulfilling a vacancy, send a request to thelma@gftunion.com. For more details about the duties and responsibilities, email Vice-President Sanjay Sharma at sharma@gftunion.com or reply to this email.

Vacant agencies for all three positions (Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and Recorder):

Guam Department of Education Support Staff

Guam Memorial Hospital Nurses and Staff

University of Guam Support Staff

Guam Waterworks

Guam Fire Department

Department of Public Health and Social Services Eligibility Specialists

Guam Port Authority

Department of Public Works Bus Drivers

Guam Police Department

Customs and Quarantine

Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center

Department of Corrections

Port Authority of Guam Police I and II, Port Security Guard (Armed)

Psychiatric Nurses

Psychiatric Technicians

Department of Public Works Sanitation Division

GDOE Teacher's Chairperson Candidacy Statements

Buenas yan Hafa Adai GFT Family! My name is Audrey Perez Mandapat, and I am hoping to continue my term as your GDOE Union Chair. I have been a part of the GFT Family since 2010 and have taken on multiple leadership roles since then. I have been your GDOE Vice Chair under the term of Ms. Doris Terlaje and have been a site steward since 2012. I have sat on the Guam Education School Board for 2 terms and have voiced our concerns to the department. I was a part of the CBA Negotiation team in 2016-2017 that brought our new and improved CBA. I humbly ask for your vote so that I can continue serving my GFT Family. Thank you.

William Arthur Ward states “Leadership is based on inspiration; not domination; on cooperation; not intimidation.”

My name is Donny T. Castro, and I am a candidate for the Guam Federation of Teachers Local 1581. I am running to not only make a difference in the lives of students but to be the voice of reasons for all teachers including Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging.

It is a new era that everyone is treated equally. I will work tirelessly to thrive to represent my fellow colleagues; to confront the challenges of our financial structural deficit where less is not more but having the resources available to us and for the greater good of our future statesmen, our students. Therefore, I will rise to let our voices be heard clearly as we stand together generation after generation as your representative with the Guam Federation of Teachers Local 1581.

Thank you.