Taking Time to Talk

DID YOU KNOW?

Your Dues Include Free Life Insurance

Coverage includes: • Up to $1,000 of term life insurance • Up to $5,000 of accidental death and dismemberment insurance claims to pet parents

(AD&D) coverage • $50,000 of AD&D insurance for an accident on the job or serving as an

Association Leader • $150,000 of life insurance if you lose your life while doing your job

Have you named your beneficiary? Make sure to update or name one or more beneficiaries.

If the worst happens to you, your choice will speed up benefit payments for loved

Your Dues Include Discounted Pet Insurance

Get Reimbursed Up To 90% on Veterinary Bills with this discounted insurance!

Pets are part of the family too, which is why NEA Member Benefits partnered with Pets Best, a leading U.S. provider, to offer pet health insurance. Pets Best was founded by a veterinarian in 2005 and has paid over $175 million in pet ones who need them.

just like you.

Plans start at just $6/month for cats and $9/month for dogs.

FMI: call 1-877-738-7237

Your Dues Include a Free Retirement Help

In less than 5 minutes you can take the pulse of your retirement plan—and it’s completely FREE for MEA members. Whether you think you’re too young or you’re ready to retire soon, it’s worth checking to see where you stand financially. Where are you now and where do you need to be? Answer a few questions and you’ll get a retirement savings snapshot plus additional planning resources if you need them.

Start your check-up now: https://bit.ly/2x77wzR

NOT RECEIVING OUR EMAILS?

How to Fix It

Outlook Clutter Folder

1. Check Clutter folder and find the MEA email 2. Right click on the email and choose "Mark as Not

Clutter" or just drag it to your inbox.

Junk Email Folder

1. Highlight the MEA email inside the "Junk Email" folder. 2. Right click on the message select "Junk." Select "Not Junk" from the next menu. 3. Outlook will give you the option to add the sender to the "Safe Senders" list as you remove the message from the "Junk Email" folder.

Gmail Promotions Folder

1. Find the MEA email in promotions folder. 2. Right click the email. Hover over "Move to tab" then select "primary"

Spam Folder

1. Find the message you want to move out of your spam folder. 2. Right click on the MEA email. Mark "Not spam."

Yahoo Promotions Folder

1. Click "Spam" folder. 2. Select the MEA email to open it. 3. Click the "Not Spam" button in the toolbox to immediately send the email to your inbox.

If you have a different email provider than one listed and are experiencing difficulties receiving our emails, please visit maineea.org/contactus and send us a message!

Why You Shouldn’t be afraid TO ASK FOR MORE MONEY

The numbers don’t lie. Teacher wages are falling further and further behind. According to a new study conducted by the Economic Policy Institute wage penalties have “grown significantly” for both male and female teachers. Take this information with you as you talk about your upcoming contracts. The report states:

• In 2017, female public school teachers were making 15.6 percent less in wages than comparable female workers.

• In 2017, male public school teachers were making 26.8 percent less in wages than comparable male workers.

Dollars and Cents in 2017

College Graduates $1,476.01* Public School Teachers $1,137.03* *average weekly wages of public school teachers and of other college graduates, adjusted only for inflation

Comments From Facebook

Edith Schriever Korstanje This makes me so sad...education is the foundation of all other professions. When do people finally realize that?

In 2004, teachers abroad were already better off than their U.S. counterparts