Clarification needed for support staff contract negotiations
While the teachers contract may be on the table for negotiations, clarification is needed for the support staff contract.
October 28, 2014Updated: October 28, 2014
By KUAM News
By KUAM News by Jolene Toves
Guam - Collective bargaining continues between DOE and the Guam Federation of Teachers but while the teachers contract may be on the table for negotiations, clarification is needed for the support staff contract.
While the collective bargaining continues between the Department of Education and the GFT it appears clarification is needed when it comes to the support staff contract. DOE superintendent Jon Fernandez said, "This past may the Department of Administration had issued a letter in response to a request that the board had made to validate the exclusive recognition status of the Guam Federation of Teachers in that letter they indicated that the teachers were had the valid documentation they noted that there was an absence of the valid documents for the support staff."
Despite the absence of the documents for the support staff it was then that the Guam Education Board gave the thumbs up to proceed with negotiations and directed the negotiating team to get the teachers contract on the table. "With the latest inquiries on support staff after looking at the Department of Administration letter has asked and voted last night to request and opinion of the attorney general to reconcile the guidance given by the Department of Education with the Pemra Law which is the framework for management employee relations," he added.
The question he says is how the two fit together given that the Department of Administration gave the go ahead to negotiate and Pemra Law requires exclusive recognition status to be documented. He says this ensures they are clear on who they are negotiating with.
Guam - Collective bargaining continues between DOE and the Guam Federation of Teachers but while the teachers contract may be on the table for negotiations, clarification is needed for the support staff contract.
While the collective bargaining continues between the Department of Education and the GFT it appears clarification is needed when it comes to the support staff contract. DOE superintendent Jon Fernandez said, "This past may the Department of Administration had issued a letter in response to a request that the board had made to validate the exclusive recognition status of the Guam Federation of Teachers in that letter they indicated that the teachers were had the valid documentation they noted that there was an absence of the valid documents for the support staff."
Despite the absence of the documents for the support staff it was then that the Guam Education Board gave the thumbs up to proceed with negotiations and directed the negotiating team to get the teachers contract on the table. "With the latest inquiries on support staff after looking at the Department of Administration letter has asked and voted last night to request and opinion of the attorney general to reconcile the guidance given by the Department of Education with the Pemra Law which is the framework for management employee relations," he added.
The question he says is how the two fit together given that the Department of Administration gave the go ahead to negotiate and Pemra Law requires exclusive recognition status to be documented. He says this ensures they are clear on who they are negotiating with.