Judge orders gov't to pay 10% raises

by Mindy Aguon

Guam - Superior Court Judge Michael Bordallo has ordered the Government of Guam to make the third 10% increase that is mandated by law or appear in court next month to explain why they won't. The decision was handed down Thursday in a class action lawsuit filed Monday by dozens of firefighters, police officers, customs officers, corrections officers and a single staffer from the Department of Parks & Recreation.

The personnel are fighting to be paid the third 10% raise that is due to them by law. The raises though were not budgeted for as the Camacho Administration instead wanted to implement the Hay Study.  In addition to ordering the government to immediately pay out the increase retroactive to October 1, Judge Michael Bordallo ordered the government and the agency heads for the fire and police departments as well as Parks & Rec to file an answer to the class action suit by November 29 with the plaintiffs to file their reply by December 6.

The order to show cause hearing is scheduled for December 16.

An Adelup statement said, "Judge Bordallo's order is currently under review by our legal counsel who, along with the governor's fiscal policy team, will  also review the administration's options."