NYC teachers union sues mayor over $10,000 paraprofessional bonus

The United Federation of Teachers, previously a backer of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, has moved to defend a City Council-approved $10,000 bonus for about 10,000 school paraprofessionals, a measure the mayor’s administration is challenging in Manhattan state Supreme Court. Mamdani’s lawsuit claims the RESPECT Check Act violates the Taylor Law by sidestepping required collective-bargaining with public-employee unions. UFT president Mike Mulgrew, who has championed higher pay for paraprofessionals, argues the union should be permitted to represent its members in the litigation, as stated by attorney Charles Moerdler.

Starting salaries for paraprofessionals range from $33,000 to $56,000 after 15 years, and the bonus would cost the city $324 million. Council Speaker Julie Menin and Councilwoman Carma De La Rosa defended the law, noting the need to raise earnings for workers supporting high-need students. The dispute highlights a sharp reversal from Mamdani’s campaign promise to increase paraprofessional pay.