GFT Files Unfair Labor Practice

by Mindy Aguon

Guam - The Guam Federation of Teachers has filed an unfair labor practice against the Department of Education and Interim Superintendent Taling Taitano.  In a May 10 letter to Department of Administration Director Benita Manglona, GFT President Matt Rector claims the department violated the Public-Employee Management Relations Act that requires that wages and hours and terms of conditions of employment be negotiated. 

The GFT has taken issue with Taitano's March 6, 2012 memorandum to all high school administrators that established changes in working hours for teachers for the 2012-2013 school year.  Rector noted that the parties were and still are in contract bargaining and changes in working hours were not agreed upon and bargaining was not exhausted.  The GFT demanded management of the department rescind the memorandum pending collective bargaining but no action was taken. 

The union has asked the governor to order DOE to cease and desist and order negotiations with the GFT.