Thursday, May 23, 2013

VIDEO: Fedenko Will "Stay in the Classroom" as GFT President

Guam News - Guam News

Guam - The current Vice President of the Guam Federation of Teachers Union is expected to move up after he was elected president in last Friday's union election. 

Dim lights Embed Embed this video on your site

Tim Fedenko was the top vote getter in the race, but another candidate is questioning the validity of the election since only 16% of the union's members voted.

Carol Taitano Somerfleck says she's sent an email to the U.S. Department of Labor to find out if the 20% rule applies to the race. According to Somerfleck the GFT Constitution requires 20% of the membership to participate in an election in order for it to be valid. Current GFT President told PNC that the 20% rule was waived.

In all 336 members cast ballots in the election, either in person at the GFT office on Friday June 1st or by mail.

Fedenko received 195, Somerfleck 134 votes and Ed Quintanilla 6 votes.

“The Election Committee has called me, said I won,” Fedenko told PNC today. “I don't know if they've certified it officially.”

While current president Matt Rector resigned from his teaching position at John F. Kennedy High School to work at the GFT office full-time after he was elected, Fedenko says he'll keep his position as the Librarian at Price Elementary School.

“I'm gonna stay in the classroom” Fedenko said. “Don't forget the union is everybody.”

Fedenko isn't sure whether the Union's Executive Council will try to fill the Executive Director position that has been vacant or not.

“That will be up to the Executive Council, they'll discuss it” he said.

As president, Fedenko hopes to see negotiations resume for a teachers contract soon.

“There are people on both sides of the team that negotiate really well together,” Fedenko said. “I think if we get to the point where those teams are communicating it'll be a lot of good instead of [what its been].”

Fedenko will officially take on his role as President after being sworn into office on June 20th.

Banner
Banner
Banner
Banner
Banner
Banner
Banner