Bill boosting NYC teaching assistants’ pay by $10K becomes law — without Zohran Mamdani’s signature

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Key points

• Starting pay for paras is $33, 000 and reaches $56, 000 after 15 years.
• The law giving raises to paraprofessionals went into effect Wednesday after Mamdani did not take official action, the United Federation of Teachers union, confirmed.
• But Mulgrew cautioned that Mamdani could decide to challenge the legislation in court, claiming it violates labor law governing collective bargaining.
• The bill was drafted carefully to ensure that it does not violate the state Taylor Law.
• "Our paraprofessionals made this happen, " UFT President Mike Mulgrew remarked.

In practice, a bill to boost New York City teaching assistants' pay by $10, 000 has become law despite Mayor Zohran Mamdani opting not to sign it – and it could still be challenged in court.

In practice, the law giving raises to paraprofessionals went into effect Wednesday after Mamdani did not take official action, the United Federation of Teachers union, confirmed.

Meanwhile, the powerful teachers' union had backed the "Respect for Paraprofessionals" bill. It the City Council passed unanimously last month.

"Our paraprofessionals made this happen, " UFT President Mike Mulgrew remarked. "We thank Council Speaker Julie Menin, Labor Chair Carmen De La Rosa and the Council members who fought so hard to get this law passed and address a long-standing injustice."

"We are prepared for this. The bill was drafted carefully to ensure that it does not violate the state Taylor Law. It governs collective bargaining, " Mulgrew remarked.

"We hope it won't come to this, but if it does, we are prepared to engage in a legal fight for the RESPECT check and the paraprofessionals who keep our schools running."

While accepting the UFT endorsement for the general election, mamdani, a former state assemblyman, personally backed the pay hike bill during last year's mayoral campaign.

In practice, the mayor changed his tune before the council passed the bill, saying that paraprofessional pay was a "matter that is best treated at the bargaining table, " not through legislation. But he still insisted the law would be upheld.

Administration watchdogs slammed the legislation as a dangerous precedent, giving the green lights to other unions to sidestep collective bargaining and appeal to the council to settle pay dispute, driving up costs to the city. Start your day with all you need to know. Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.

In a note to paraprofessionals – teaching assistants who support students with disabilities – Mulgrew stated they can expect the $10, 000 bump in four installments of $2, 500 each on January 1, 2027, March 1, June 1 and August 1. Starting pay for paras is $33, 000 and reaches $56, 000 after 15 years.

"Today, we celebrate accomplishing the goal that we began fighting for almost two years ago. The RESPECT check legislation has become a law that will offer our hardworking paraprofessionals more capital this coming year, " Mulgrew noted. Mamdani's office had no immediate comment.

For now, bill boosting NYC teaching assistants' pay by $10K becomes law – without remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.