Celebrating Thanksgiving with Gratitude – A Message to GFT Union Members
As Thanksgiving approaches, bringing with it a much-anticipated 4-day weekend, we at the Guam Federation of Teachers (GFT) are eager to express our deep gratitude and best wishes to every member. This festive season is a perfect time to acknowledge our shared...
Representing GovGuam Agencies and Alutiiq Bus Drivers
GFT, AFT Local 1581, exclusively represents the Guam Department of Education Teachers and Support Staff, Guam Memorial Hospital Nurses and Staff, University of Guam Support Staff, Guam Community College 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, Alutiiq Bus Drivers, Guam Police Department, Customs and Quarantine, Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center and the Department of Corrections, Port Authority of Guam Police I and II, Port Security Guard (Armed), Psychiatric Nurses, Psychiatric Technicians, and Department of Public Works Sanitation Division.
Martin Luther King Jr Day
In his famous "I Have a Dream" speech at the March on Washington, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, "We will win our freedom because the sacred heritage of our nation is the ability of each individual to make of himself the master of his own fate." It was a speech full...
Forgiveness Loans and TEACH Grant
One of the best ways to increase your pay is to get a higher degree. For educators, getting 18 credits on top of your Bachelor's degree will earn you a Teacher III status. Getting a Master's degree will land you at Teacher IV. If you're If you’re thinking about...
Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program
Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program Under the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program, if you teach full-time for five complete and consecutive academic years in a low-income school or educational service agency, and meet other qualifications, you may be eligible for...
Receive a TEACH Grant to Pay for College
The TEACH Grant Program provides grants of up to $4,000 a year to students who are completing or plan to complete course work needed to begin a career in teaching. This does not apply to students who are enrolled in a Master's program where a university or college...
Qualifying for Public Service Loan Forgiveness
The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. The biggest change announced by the Department of...
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...
GFT Holiday Hours Christmas 2021 and New Year’s Day
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year from all of us at GFT! The end of the year is always a time for reflection, and it has been an unprecedented year for us. This year has been hard with all the constant workplace changes due to...
Talks of Extending School Year 2021-2022
Many school communities have been reaching out to GFT regarding the Guam Education Board’s (GEB) recent discussions on extending the school year. The Guam Daily Post ran an article entitled GFT to seek time and a half if school year gets extended that grabbed the...
Bus Drivers Receive Donations to Keep Buses Clean and Safe for our Children
Bus drivers from the Department of Public Works and Alutiiq received donations from GFT to keep everyone safe. GFT heard from some bus drivers that supplies were running short with the return to full operations with GDOE students. Supply shortages are no excuse for...
The Guam Education Board Looks to End Cohorts for All Grade Levels
The Guam Education Board (GEB) looks to end cohorts for all grade levels by moving to 100% face-to-face instruction by Monday, November 29, 2021. The school community is advised to pay close attention to the next GEB meeting scheduled for Tuesday, November 23, 2021,...
Happy Thanksgiving from your Union Family
This year has been challenging in ways that make it feel like an entire decade has passed by. That is why now, more than ever, it is important to pause to take inventory of the things we are thankful for. With so much hurt and pain socially, politically, and with...
AFT settles student debt lawsuit, wins big gains for borrowers
The AFT, AFT President Randi Weingarten and eight individual AFT member plaintiffs have reached a landmark settlement with the U.S. Department of Education in the case Weingarten v. DeVos, and as a result tens of thousands of student loan borrowers can expect imminent...