Hi ,

The 14th Annual GFT Annual Convention kicks off this year at the UOG SBPA Building, Room 129 on 6:00PM Saturday, March 18, 2023. This FREE event is open to all GFT members. This is an informal event to recognize involved GFT members such as shop stewards, committee members, and long-time GFT members. Installation of the unopposed AT-Large officers will occur during this event. Food and non-alcoholic drinks will be served.

Where: UOG, SBPA Building, Room 129

When: SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2023 @ 6PM

Attire: Casual

Last Day to Register: MARCH 15, 2023 @ 5pm

Annual Convention Registration

Register Here or call (671)735-4390 to reserve your spot.

GuamMinimumWage.org

Have you checked out GuamMinimumWage.org? There is currently a concerted effort on Guam to increase the minimum wage for private sector employees, which has remained stagnant for some time. Despite concerns that such a move could contribute to inflation, numerous studies have disproven this idea. For many families on the island, providing basic necessities has become increasingly challenging due to flat wages and rising prices on household goods.

Puerto Rico's Minimum Wage Set to Surpass Guam's

The low wages in Guam and Puerto Rico are a major source of hardship for many workers in these territories. Despite being part of the United States, both territories have significantly lower minimum wages compared to the mainland, which leads to many workers struggling to make ends meet. Low wages often result in poverty, which can have serious long-term effects on both the individual and the local economy.

Puerto Rico, in particular, has been hit hard by the long-term economic effects of Hurricane Maria, Hurricane Fiona, and the COVID-19 pandemic, making the need for a higher minimum wage even more pressing. The recent passage of the "Puerto Rico Minimum Wage Act" is a step in the right direction, as it establishes a higher minimum wage and creates a board to periodically review and potentially increase the minimum wage every two years. The new law recognizes the importance of ensuring that all workers earn enough to cover their basic living expenses and that no full-time worker should live below the poverty level. Puerto Rico’s minimum wage will automatically increase to $9.50 per hour on July 1, 2023, and $10.50 per hour on July 1, 2024.

In comparison, Guam has a minimum wage of $9.25 per hour, but this is still not enough to provide workers with a comfortable standard of living. The cost of living in both territories is relatively high, and many workers struggle to pay for basic necessities like housing, food, and healthcare. The low wages in Guam and Puerto Rico are a major barrier to economic growth and prosperity, as they limit the spending power of local consumers and prevent the development of a strong middle class.

It is imperative for lawmakers to take action to increase the minimum wage in Guam and Puerto Rico to ensure that workers can meet their basic needs and have a better quality of life. The recent steps taken in Puerto Rico are a positive example of what can be done to address this issue, and it is crucial that similar steps be taken in Guam as well. By ensuring that workers are paid a living wage, both territories can lay the foundation for long-term economic growth and prosperity.