About Matt

Matthew Joseph Rector Birth date: November 13, 1962

Birthplace: Sacramento, CA

Parents: Homer and Loretta Rector My mother was a teacher ( and a good union member ) for over 35 years in Sacramento and my father started with AT&T as a Union linesman and eventually worked his way up to a management position. My parents were part of the generation where a person that went to work everyday, and kept their nose clean could live a decent middle class life style, not have to worry about going bankrupt if they got ill and had a decent pension so that after serving their company or community they could retire.

Education:

• BA, Chemistry University of California, San Diego

• Education classes from UOG Union leadership classes from the Union Leadership Institute

• My Family and the Friends that I have on Guam and around the world. I believe that there is something that we can learn from everyone.

Work:

1991 - 2004 Teacher GPSS (1 year at Untalan, 1 at AIJMS, 3 at DMS, and 12 at JFK)

2004 - Present Full time President of GFT, Guam's Local Union

Union History:

1995 - 2004 Steward at JFK

1996 - 1997 Chair of the Steward Council

1997 - 2004 Chair of the GPSS Teachers' Union

2004 - Present President of GFT The union and the labor movement in General have made a huge difference in my life and I have been incredibly blessed to be a part of and to lead this great union. In the last five years have made incredible strides forward in fulfilling our mission, "To improve the quality of life for our members and their families". We have achieved this by negotiating some of the best collective bargaining agreements which not only protect the working conditions of our members but improve our community by improve the quality of services that our families receive. We have won millions of Dollars in court and through legislative action for our members and where we could negotiate wages we have improved our members' standard of living dramatically. Through the union I have had the opportunity to work with and get to know many fantastic people from all walks of life both on Guam, in the United States and around the World. It is through these many connections and resources that we will have the tools to build an economy and a public structure that works for all of our families.