NYC teaching assistants receive $10,000 raise as mayor lets pay bill become law
A law granting a $10,000 salary increase to New York City teaching assistants took effect after Mayor Zohran Mamdani declined to sign it, and the measure could still face a legal challenge.
The New York City Council passed the "Respect for Paraprofessionals" bill, providing a $10,000 pay boost to teaching assistants, and the measure became law after Mayor Zohran Mamdani took no action on it. The United Federation of Teachers, led by President Mike Mulgrew, hailed the legislation as a correction of a long-standing inequity and thanked Council Speaker Julie Menin and Labor Chair Carmen De La Rosa for their support.
Mamdani, who had previously backed the proposal during his campaign, now argues the increase should be handled through collective bargaining and may seek to overturn the law in court. The union says the bill was crafted to comply with the state Taylor Law and is prepared for a possible legal fight. The salary increase will be delivered in four $2,500 installments starting January 1, 2027, raising the entry wage to $33,000 and reaching $56,000 after 15 years of service.
Why it matters
It changes pay for thousands of NYC school paraprofessionals and raises questions about legislative bypass of collective-bargaining rules.
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