Mamdani turns on New York City teachers union with lawsuit blocking pay raises for educators
NYC Teachers Union Faces Mayor’s Legal Challenge Over Paraprofessional Pay Raise
New York City, Aug. 26, 2026 – The United Federation of Teachers (UFT), New York City’s largest teachers’ union, has filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit the city’s mayor has brought to block the recently passed “RESPECT Check Act,” a bill that would provide up to a $10,000 bonus for education paraprofessionals. The action follows the mayor’s filing of a suit on Aug. 19 to prevent the law from taking effect, citing a conflict with New York State’s Taylor Law, which governs collective bargaining for public employees.
The RESPECT Check Act was adopted unanimously by the New York City Council on July 16, 2026. The legislation is designed to address the low salaries of paraprofessionals who support high‑need students, many of whom earn as little as $32,000 per year. Under the bill, eligible workers could receive a one‑time bonus of up to $10,000, a move that council officials say is fiscally responsible and will help mitigate staffing shortages that have contributed to the city’s $1.5 billion in Carter case costs.
“We knew this lawsuit was a possibility, and we were prepared,” UFT President Michael Mulgrew told Fox News Digital. “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, which governs collective bargaining.” Mulgrew added that the city council would not have introduced or passed the bill if it were illegal and that the union would not support a measure that threatened its collective bargaining rights. He called the situation “an opportunity for Mayor Mamdani to create a new, fairer system” and vowed that the union would not stop until the administration kept its promises.
The city council’s joint statement, released on Aug. 19, reiterated its support. “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 pledged to defend the law vigorously.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who had previously endorsed the UFT’s support of the bill after winning the Democratic nomination for mayor in July 2025, has taken a different stance. In a news conference last week, Mamdani said he does not oppose a pay raise for paraprofessionals and described discussions with Council Speaker Julie Menin and the union as “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,” the mayor said.
Despite the mayor’s claim that the RESPECT Check Act violates the Taylor Law, the UFT maintains that the bill was drafted to comply with state law. The lawsuit, filed by the mayor’s office, seeks to prevent the law from being enacted on Aug. 19. The UFT’s motion to intervene indicates that the union intends to challenge the mayor’s lawsuit in court should it proceed.
The legal dispute centers on whether a city‑backed bonus for public employees can be imposed without a collective‑bargaining agreement. Under the Taylor Law, any changes to compensation must be negotiated between the city and the affected workers’ unions. The UFT argues that the council’s unanimous approval of the RESPECT Check Act demonstrates that the measure does not contravene state law, while the mayor’s administration insists otherwise.
The outcome of the legal battle will have implications for the city’s education system. If the lawsuit succeeds, paraprofessionals would be denied a significant bonus that the council and union have argued is essential for attracting and retaining staff amid ongoing shortages. If the court dismisses the mayor’s suit, the RESPECT Check Act will go into effect, potentially boosting salaries for thousands of paraprofessionals across New York City.
The case is expected to be heard later this month. In the meantime, city council members, the UFT, and the mayor’s office remain engaged in negotiations and legal preparations as the dispute over the RESPECT Check Act unfolds.