New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) have announced a tentative five-plus-year contract agreement that will cover approximately 120,000 municipal employees, representing about 66 percent of the total workforce.
Retroactively effective from September 14, 2022, to November 28, 2027, the agreement aligns with the economic pattern established by the previous District Council (DC) 37 agreement. It includes wage increases of three percent annually for the first three years, 3.25 percent in the fourth year, and 3.50 percent in the fifth year. Additionally, all UFT members will receive a $3,000 lump sum ratification bonus. To help retain valuable educators, especially those with lower salaries, the agreement introduces an annual retention payment starting from May 2024, with amounts increasing each year.
In a groundbreaking move, the agreement establishes New York City public schools as the first major school system in the nation to offer a voluntary virtual learning program. This program will be available to all high school students and some middle school students, providing access to a broader range of courses across the city. Students will have the flexibility to take classes at non-traditional times, such as evenings and weekends, without replacing in-person learning. The virtual learning initiative aims to expand course offerings to students currently lacking access to accelerated courses and cater to students with full-time jobs. Teachers leading virtual classes will also have the option to teach from preferred locations. The virtual classes will be offered citywide and through school-based programs.
Mayor Adams expressed his gratitude to UFT President Michael Mulgrew, Office of Labor Relations Commissioner Renee Campion, and Department of Education (DOE) Chancellor David Banks for their collaboration in reaching this historic agreement. Commissioner Campion thanked President Mulgrew for working on the contract and acknowledged Chancellor Banks and his team for their support. Chancellor Banks highlighted the significance of the agreement in advancing public education in New York City, emphasizing the investment in educators, wage increases, and the transformative potential of the virtual learning program.
The tentative agreement is subject to ratification by UFT’s membership and covers a wide range of positions, including teachers, paraprofessionals, school secretaries, guidance counselors, psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, staff nurses, and supervisors of school security.
The total cost of the tentative UFT agreement until Fiscal Year 2027 is projected to be $6.4 billion, which is funded within the labor reserve of the proposed Fiscal Year 2024 Executive Budget.
Alongside the wage increases, the tentative agreement features annual retention payments for UFT members, starting at $400 in May 2024 and increasing to $700 in May 2025, with a final raise to $1,000 in May 2026 and subsequent years. Furthermore, the agreement introduces an expansive voluntary virtual learning program that offers flexible scheduling and virtual teaching opportunities for educators.