MEMBERS AND STAKEHOLDERS OPPOSE BILL 70
GFT members, teachers, students, parents and other stakeholders testify at the Guam Education Board meeting opposing Bill 70-34 converting Simon Sanchez High School to a charter school
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.
278 DOE TEACHERS WILL BE FIRED
The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has ordered the immediate termination of DOE teachers who do not hold a valid certificate. This also includes those who have expired certificates. CSC has also ordered that these teachers pay back their salary earnings starting from...
WORKERS AT SMITHFIELD FOODS TAR HEEL PLANT RATIFY FIRST-EVER UNION COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE UFCW
A majority of the 5,000 Smithfield Foods Tar Heel workers ratified their first-ever union collective agreement after 5 months of negotiations. In December 2008, Tar Heel workers voted in favour of union representation with IUF affiliate UFCW and chose to join UFCW...
INCREASING GUAM’S WAGES DOES NOT CAUSE INFLATION
Since June 2003 the price of goods has gone up even when wages stayed the same! This clearly shows wages earned by Guam's workers has almost no effect on the cost of goods because majority of goods are made or produced off island. We need to raise our wages to keep up...
UNIONIZED WORKPLACES MAKE A DIFFERENCE
There is a "union difference" in family-friendly workplace policies, such as family and medical leave, paid sick leave for employees and their children, health care and flexible work arrangements. continue reading
KAISER MODEL SHOWS THE WAY TO IMPROVING HEALTH CARE DELIVERY
Using a combination of integrated, team-based care and technology, Kaiser Permanente of Southern California developed a Healthy Bones initiative that not only reduced fractures in the most at-risk patients by 37 percent, but lowered the care cost for the same patients...
PESKA! INDIGENOUS FISHING RIGHTS
Meetings regarding the indigenous native fishing rights will be on Tues. 7/28/09 at the Mangilao Community Center 6:30pm and Wed. 7/28/09 at the Inarajan Mayor's Office 6:30pm. There will also be a public hearing on Tues. 8/4/09 6pm at the Legislative Public Hearing...
WIN-WIN SOLUTION FOR ALL OF GUAM’S WORKERS
The recent Bill 30-180 will give all classified public servants a $10,000 pay raise. This is a much needed raise that will help Guam's families keep up with inflation. Wage increases are exactly what our economy needs because the more money in workers' pockets, the...
GUAM LEGISLATURE: PART OF NCSL RALLY ON HEALTH CARE REFORM
Representatives of different States and U.S. territories are currently at the National Conference of State Legislatures. They recently rallied to include a public option as part of the Federal Health Care Reform plan. Some of Guam's senators took part in this...
MINIMUM WAGE WORKERS: BETTER EDUCATED, WORSE COMPENSATED
This Friday, the federal minimum wage will increase from $6.55 to $7.25, the third and final step in the minimum wage increase Congress authorized in 2007. With this final step, an estimated 4.5 million of America’s lowest paid workers will receive a raise, but this...
PRODUCT SAFETY CHIEF: KEEP KIDS’ PRODUCTS SAFE OR ELSE
One of the nation's top safety officials is putting manufacturers on notice: Comply with new rules aimed at keeping children's products safe, or face the potential of big fines. Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Inez Tenenbaum said Tuesday that her agency...
DO YOU HAVE PAID SICK LEAVE? DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH?
One of the great things workers can get out of forming a union is the ability to negotiate for better benefits. With 16 cases of swine flu confirmed in Guam, it is a precaution for workers to stay at home if they are sick. The chances of spreading illness at the...
POPE URGES WORKERS’ VOICES BE HEARD, UNIONS ADAPT TO GLOBAL ECONOMY
When Pope Benedict XVI released his third encyclical -- "Caritas in Veritate" ("Charity in Truth") -- he stressed that the voice of workers must be heard as heads of state, industry moguls, labor union leaders and environmentalists develop long-term solutions for the...