Teachers at some of the elementary schools have been contacting the office informing us that their Administrator is directing teachers to report before 7:45am in order to pick up their kids by that time.  According to the Teachers’ Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), teachers are to report to work 15 minutes prior to the first period of instruction.  Instructional time is defined as the time a teacher is responsible for students.  For example, if you are an elementary school teacher, you must report to work by 7:45am.  Your instructional time begins at 8am.  Your duty day, which is the maximum time you are required to be at your worksite, must not exceed 6 hours for elementary schools.  If your Administrator is requiring you to report to work by 7:30am and begin instructional time at 7:45am, then that is a violation of the CBA.

Although the Teachers’ CBA has expired, the Superintendent has directed Administrators to honor the “spirit of the contract”.  If you are experiencing this violation at your school, then you can print out a copy of this section of the CBA and simply remind your Administrator to act in good faith and honor the “spirit of the contract”.  This is why it is important to have a CBA in place.  Issues regarding a teacher’s duty day, class sizes, seniority, etc. are protected by a CBA.  If you would like to continue receiving the protection of a CBA, then get in contact with your Steward to schedule a Union meeting.  If you do not have a Steward at your school, then you may contact the GFT office at 735-4390 to schedule a Union meeting.  

ACCORDING TO THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GFT AFT LOCAL 1581, AFL-CIO AND THE GUAM EDUCATION POLICY BOARD

5.B. SCHOOL DAY AND TEACHING LOAD

5.B.3. A teacher shall be at his/her workstation at least fifteen (15) minutes prior to his/her school’s first period of instruction and shall remain until at least fifteen (15) minutes after pupils have been dismissed.
General administrative duties, including lesson preparation, teacher Conferences parent-teacher conferences, workshops and other non-instructional activities are also part of a teacher’s duty day

1.B. DEFINITIONS

1.B.5. Duty Day: The maximum amount of time that a member of the bargaining unit is required to be at their worksite. Said duty day shall not exceed 6 hours for elementary school and 7 hours for secondary school.

1.B.8. Instructional Time: That time during which a teacher has the assigned responsibility for students.