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Council passes $10,000 bonus for paraprofessionals, circumventing bargaining

Mamdani says measure for teachers' aides violates state labor law

BY HARPER FREEMAN
Posted 7/24/26

The city’s paraprofessionals will receive a one-time $10,000 non-pensionable bonus under legislation that passed the City Council last week in a unanimous vote. The “Respect Check” legislation is the culmination of years of advocacy by leadership of the United Federation of Teachers who has pleaded with lawmakers to provide relief to thousands of paraprofessionals who have a starting salary under $32,000. 

But the bill faces an uncertain future, with Mayor Zohran Mamdani arguing that the Council’s circumventing of the collective bargaining process violates state labor law. 

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