New York City announced a five-year, $6.4 billion labor agreement that grants teachers salary raises and bonuses of up to 20%, according to a joint statement by Mayor Eric Adams and the United Federation of Teachers (UFT).
As per the contract, veteran teachers will now earn salaries surpassing $150,000 for the first time, and the timeframe for most teachers to reach a $100,000 salary will be reduced from 15 years to eight years.
The agreement covers approximately 120,000 teachers and staff and includes a provision to expand voluntary virtual learning options for students, a program endorsed by Mayor Adams and New York City Public Schools Chancellor David Banks.
However, the contract does not have unanimous approval. Assemblyman Sam Pirrozolo expressed concerns about its impact on students. He said, “It’s a great contract for the teachers, but what about the students? We need to include provisions for their benefit.”
Unlike a previous clause negotiated in 2002 under then-Mayor Mike Bloomberg, the contract does not propose any additional instructional time for students in exchange for salary increases.
The agreement also raises questions about budgetary issues, with Ana Champeny, Vice President of the Citizens Budget Commission, noting that the city needs to address an anticipated $11 billion budget shortfall by 2027. The funding sources for the contract remain unidentified at the time of writing.
The contract, effective from September 14, 2022, to November 2027, includes annual pay raises of 3% for the first three years, 3.25% in the fourth year, and 3.5% in the fifth year. Additionally, all teachers and UFT members will receive a $3,000 contract ratification bonus, which is not counted within the 20% pay increase. Furthermore, annual retention bonuses will begin in May 2024. Accounting for these bonuses, the total pay increase over the contract’s duration ranges from 17.58% to 20.42%.
Another significant aspect of the contract is expanding a trial virtual learning project. Starting in the next academic year, high schools and institutions serving grades 6-12 will offer after-school and weekend online programs.
By the end of the contract, the starting salary for newly hired teachers will increase from $61,070 to $72,349, and the highest salary for paraprofessionals will be $56,761, including bonuses.
