Eric Adams, NYC teachers’ union agree on $6.4B contract
Mayor Eric Adams and the city’s powerful teachers union, the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), have reached a landmark $6.4 billion deal, complete with pay hikes and signing bonuses for teachers. The tentative agreement, which covers approximately 160,000 City Department of Education workers, will be implemented over five years and includes a retroactive wage increase back to September 2022.
Under the terms of the agreement, teachers will receive a 3% pay hike for the first three years through 2025, followed by 3.25% and 3.50% in the fourth and fifth years. In addition, the deal includes a $3,000 signing bonus for new teachers and an annual retention bonus, starting at $400 per member in 2024, rising to $700 in 2025, and then remaining at $1,000 every year thereafter.
Speaking at a City Hall press conference earlier this week, Mayor Adams praised the deal, saying, “It’s a great deal for workers, and as I said, it’s fair for city taxpayers.” He was joined by DOE Chancellor David Banks and UFT President Michael Mulgrew.
The agreement includes a provision permitting an increased emphasis on virtual learning for some high school and middle school students, allowing for more flexible scheduling options and classes on weeknights and weekends.
The announcement came less than 24 hours after NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell revealed that she is resigning from the department. Mayor Adams acknowledged Sewell’s departure at the beginning of his remarks, thanking her for her service and noting that she “came in with a hammer, she broke the glass ceiling.”
FAQs:
What is the UFT?
The United Federation of Teachers is a New York City-based labor union that represents approximately 200,000 people who work in the city’s public schools, including teachers, guidance counselors, and social workers.
What is the significance of this deal?
The $6.4 billion agreement is one of the largest contracts ever negotiated between a municipal government and a public employee union. The deal includes significant pay raises and bonuses for teachers, as well as provisions to improve working conditions and increase the availability of virtual learning options for some students.
What is the retention bonus?
The retention bonus is an annual payment made to UFT members who remain employed with the city’s Department of Education. The bonus will start at $400 per member in 2024 and rise to $700 in 2025, before settling at $1,000 per year in subsequent years.
What are the terms of the retroactive wage increase?
Under the terms of the agreement, the retroactive wage increase covers the period from September 2022 onward. The increase will be implemented gradually over the five-year period of the deal, with a 3% pay hike for the first three years followed by 3.25% and 3.50% increases in subsequent years.
$6.4B Contract between NYC Teachers’ Union and Eric Adams is Agreed Upon
Mayor Eric Adams has announced a deal worth $6.4 billion with the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), a powerful union representing the City Department of Education’s 160,000 workers. This tentative agreement includes retroactive wage increases dating back to September 2022 and pay hikes for the first three years of the five-year contract. After that, teachers will receive 3.25% and 3.50% pay increases in the fourth and fifth years, respectively. The deal also offers a signing bonus of $3,000 for new teachers and a retention bonus of up to $1,000 per member every year starting in 2024. At Tuesday’s press conference at City Hall, Mayor Adams said, “It’s a great deal for workers and as I said, it’s fair for city taxpayers.” The contract also allows for flexible scheduling and an increased emphasis on virtual learning for high school and some middle school students. The announcement comes amidst the shocking resignation of NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell, whom Adams thanked for her service and described as having broken the glass ceiling during her less than two years at the helm of the nation’s largest police force.