The New York City Council has unanimously approved a $10,000 pay increase for school paraprofessionals, a move that bypasses the traditional collective bargaining process. The decision, which fulfills a key demand of the powerful United Federation of Teachers union, could face a veto from Mayor Zohran Mamdani, though the council possesses a veto-proof majority.
The pay raises, which will cost an estimated $324 million, have drawn criticism from government watchdogs like the Citizen Budget Commission. They warn that the council's action sets a potentially costly precedent by allowing legislative bodies to unilaterally determine employee compensation outside of negotiated contracts.
"I want to first just underline the importance of paraprofessionals in our city in our education system. The work that they do is critical," Mayor Mamdani stated, acknowledging the value of the paraprofessionals' roles. However, he also expressed his belief that "this is a matter that is best treated at the bargaining table."
City Council Speaker Julie Menin defended the vote, stating that the council had attempted to secure the raises through collective bargaining and the budget process but were unsuccessful due to opposition from the prior administration under former Mayor Eric Adams. "We have more than enough votes to do an override," Menin said, expressing hope that a veto would not occur for employees earning "shameful wages" as low as $32,000 annually.
The prospect of these raises first emerged in 2025 when the administration of former Mayor Eric Adams reportedly dismissed a request for paraprofessional salary increases. UFT President Michael Mulgrew supported the City Council's initiative to move forward with the raises outside of the direct negotiation with the Adams administration.
Ana Champeny, vice president for research at the Citizen Budget Commission, voiced concerns that legislative compensation decisions could undermine the collective bargaining process. "If this bill becomes law, other unions may also seek legislation to increase compensation beyond what they collectively bargained," she stated. "That would weaken the bargaining process, increase pressure for additional off-cycle compensation, and expose the City to substantial future costs."
A former City Hall labor negotiator, speaking anonymously, described the council's action as "stupid, but legal," predicting that unions might forgo collective bargaining if they believe they can secure benefits through legislative means. "No union will ever do collective bargaining if they could just go to the legislature and get what they want," the source said.