New York City teachers voted to ratify a new five-year union contract that provides annual raises and significantly expands virtual learning, the United Federation of Teachers announced Monday.
The contract passed with nearly 75% of more than 95,700 votes, according to a tally by the American Arbitration Association.
“Our teachers and school staff work day in and day out to provide a brighter future for our children,” said Mayor Adams in a statement, “and we are proud today that they have voted to ratify this contract. It gives them much-needed wage increases, as well as a new retention bonus that will help ensure we are holding on to our valuable educators.”
More teachers cast ballots this year than during any other contract ratification in the history of the union, according to a UFT press release to announce the deal. More than eight in 10 ballots issued were returned.
“The new agreement addresses the major changes sought by the union’s 500-member negotiating team,” said UFT President Michael Mulgrew in a statement. “The contract increases pay, increases educators’ control over their workday, and decreases the non-educational, irrelevant paperwork demands.”
But the approval rate took a slight hit since the last contract vote. In 2018, the deal was approved by a margin of 87%, the union announced at the time.
Some teachers raised concerns during the weeks since the city announced a tentative agreement last month that the raises do not keep pace with inflation and an affordability crisis plaguing New York.
One such group, the Movement of Rank and File Educators — a dissident caucus within the UFT — distributed flyers urging teachers to vote against wage increases that amount to a “pay-cut” when adjusted for inflation. The caucus was also critical of low pay for non-teaching positions, such as the $33,000 starting salary for paraprofessionals, and the pace that a contract was pushed through.
“Some proposals, like virtual schooling, would…
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