The United Federation of Teachers (UFT) is actively opposing New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's lawsuit aimed at preventing a pay raise for education paraprofessionals. The union, which previously endorsed Mamdani, has filed a motion to intervene in the legal challenge, signaling its intent to defend the legislation in court.
The City Council unanimously passed the "RESPECT Check Act" last month, a bill designed to provide paraprofessionals with bonuses of up to $10,000. While Mayor Mamdani had supported a similar measure in the past, his administration has since argued that the current bill violates New York State's Taylor Law, which governs collective bargaining rights for public employees. The administration filed a lawsuit to halt the law's implementation, which was set for August 19.
In response, UFT President Michael Mulgrew stated that the union was prepared for the lawsuit. "The RESPECT check law, which was unanimously passed by City Council on July 16, was carefully drafted to make sure that it did not violate the state’s Taylor Law," Mulgrew said. "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."
Mulgrew added that this situation presents an opportunity for Mayor Mamdani to establish a "new, fairer system" and to uphold promises made during his campaign. The UFT is committed to ensuring the bill's enactment.
The City Council, through a joint statement by Speaker Julie Menin and Council Member Carmen De La Rosa, affirmed its commitment to defending the RESPECT Check Act. "Every member of the Council, in a unanimous and bipartisan vote, supported the RESPECT Check Act because it is unacceptable that paraprofessionals who support some of our highest-need students are earning as little as $32,000 a year," the statement read. The council views the law as both ethically sound and fiscally responsible, arguing it could help alleviate staffing shortages that contribute to significant city costs.
Mamdani, however, has described recent discussions with Speaker Menin and the UFT as "productive." Speaking at a press conference last week, he indicated that he does not oppose a pay increase for paraprofessionals but emphasized the need for a solution that aligns with state law. "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," Mamdani said regarding the talks.