New York City Teachers Union Challenges Mayor's Lawsuit Against Pay Raises for Paraprofessionals

<p>The United Federation of Teachers (UFT), New York City's largest teachers union, is opposing Mayor Zohran Mamdani's lawsuit aimed at blocking a city-supported pay raise for education paraprofessionals. The UFT had previously endorsed Mamdani in the last election.</p><p>On July 16, the New York City Council passed the "RESPECT Check Act," which proposes bonuses of up to $10,000 for education paraprofessionals.</p><p>Although Mamdani had previously supported a version of the bill, he has since expressed opposition, claiming it violates New York state's Taylor Law, which protects public employees' rights to negotiate compensation. His administration filed a lawsuit to prevent the law from taking effect on August 19.</p><p>In response, the UFT filed a motion to intervene last week, indicating a readiness to take legal action if Mamdani continues his opposition to the measure. UFT President Michael Mulgrew stated, "We knew this lawsuit was a possibility, and we were prepared. The RESPECT Check law, which was unanimously passed by City Council, was carefully drafted to ensure compliance with the state’s Taylor Law, which governs collective bargaining."</p><p>Mulgrew added, "The City Council would not have introduced — let alone passed — this bill if it were illegal, and we would not have supported a bill that threatened our collective bargaining rights. This moment is an opportunity for Mayor Mamdani to create a new, fairer system and build the kind of city he said he wanted to lead. This administration must keep its promises, and we won’t stop until it does."</p><p>Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani's office for comment but did not receive an immediate response. The city council referenced a joint statement from City Council Speaker Julie Menin and council member Carmen De La Rosa regarding Mamdani's lawsuit, which emphasized the importance of the RESPECT Check Act for supporting paraprofessionals who earn as little as $32,000 a year. The statement noted that the law is fiscally responsible and aims to address staffing shortages contributing to the city’s $1.5 billion in Carter case costs.</p><p>The UFT had previously endorsed Mamdani after he secured the Democratic nomination for New York City mayor in July 2025. Despite the ongoing lawsuit, Mamdani stated in a news conference last week that discussions with Menin and the UFT have been "productive," and he does not oppose a pay raise for paraprofessionals. He remarked, "The relationship [with Menin] continues as it’s been, and the talks [with the UFT] have been productive. They’ve been productive because we have a shared understanding of the critical role that paraprofessionals play in our public school system and in our city."</p>