MEA 2022 Priorities Aim to Improve Schools & Livelihoods
Addressing Workforce Shortages Through Compensation and Certification Improvements
- Lift the Minimum Wage for School Support Staff
Too many districts are struggling to recruit ed techs, bus drivers, and other critical personnel, but in many cases these shortages are exacerbated by poor pay. MEA will submit legislation and advocate for a minimum wage increase of at least 125% of the state minimum wage for all Maine educators. - $50,000 Minimum Teacher Salary, Tied to Inflation
MEA will advocate for legislation that will increase the minimum teacher salary to $50,000. As in the $40,000 increase, it is expected that any jump in the minimum may occur over time. Therefore, MEA will also push to have the minimum eventually tied to inflation so the minimum increases each year. MEA believes this legislation is crucial as the state continues to see a lack of teachers entering the profession. - Improve Certification Office Responsiveness
Response times for certification at the Maine Department of Education have improved, however with workforce shortages happening in schools all over our state, reducing wait times further will best serve students and the qualified educators hoping to work with them. MEA will advocate for additional staff at the MDOE who are dedicated to certification to not only speed up processing times but also provide greater oversight.
Pension Improvements – Retirement with Dignity for Educators
- COLA Increase to Keep Pace with Inflation
MEA will push to increase the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) benefit to all MainePers beneficiaries. Without an additional 6.1% ($519 million) the pension benefits of every teacher, ed tech II and III, every state employee, and every current retiree will go backward. MEA will work hard to secure improvements in the first year of the legislative session. - Lift the COLA Cap
MEA will work on legislation to lift the COLA cap, so it applies to more of our members’ pension earnings. With inflation at record levels, and costs increasing on all items, MEA will advocate for your pension to keep pace with inflation. - Long Term Disability
The current benefit package for participants in MainePers, including MEA members, lacks a long-term disability plan. MEA will advocate for the State to provide a long-term disability plan to all MainePers participants, adding this much needed protection to thousands of educators at an extremely affordable rate. - Retiree Health Care Improvements
Last year, MEA advocated and received a much-needed increase in the State share of retiree health insurance. Now, building upon our success where the state increased the amount it pays for retired teacher/ed tech health care from 45% to 55%, MEA will seek additional increases of 5% per year until the state is funding the total cost of the program for retired educators.
Union Improvements-Increased Voice in Your Work
- Access to Member Information
In too many school districts, employers are withholding basic membership information from MEA and our local associations, including contact information. MEA worked and succeeded in passing a law that asks districts to give this information to the union, that way the union can be a resource to all employees. MEA will now advocate expanding that law and instead of asking for the information require the districts to provide the information for all represented employees. - Racial Equity
MEA will work with other partners to continue to advance the cause of racial equity in Maine, including efforts to extend tribal sovereignty to Maine’s tribes, and continue to support the work of the Permanent Commission.
Student and School Improvements
- Menstrual Equity
MEA will again advocate for legislation that requires all schools to provide menstrual products to all students that need them in restrooms. MEA worked on this legislation during the last session, but it failed to receive funding. MEA will continue this work this year. - School Safety
MEA is meeting with the Maine School Safety Center to learn more about how our schools can be the safest places for our staff and students. It is crucial that MEA partner with other organizations to understand and then implement the best practices in school safety. MEA will submit legislation on the issue, if necessary.
