Breaking the Pattern: A $10K Pay Boost for Paraprofessionals is Just the Beginning
This historic fight to close the pay gap challenges outdated bargaining limits—and paves the way for bigger wins for all UFT members. Sign the petition and be part of the change!
Real progress doesn’t come from flashy slogans or quick-fix promises—it comes from steady leadership, long-term strategy, and the determination to challenge the status quo. Winning real gains for workers requires experienced hands that know how to navigate the complex politics of NYC, not just big talk. That’s exactly what’s at stake in the fight to close the pay gap for paraprofessionals. This potential $10,000 salary increase isn’t just about one bargaining unit—it’s about proving that we can break free from the constraints of pattern bargaining and set the stage for even bigger wins for all UFT members. To make this happen, we need every member to take action, organize, and stand together.
The Challenge of Pattern Bargaining
One of the biggest obstacles to achieving true wage equity in NYC public schools is pattern bargaining—a practice where the salary increases for one unionized workforce set the precedent for all others, locking workers into predetermined pay structures. While this approach ensures some level of consistency, it also restricts our ability to fight for targeted, meaningful wage increases for the most underpaid members of our union.
For too long, paraprofessionals—who are essential to the daily functioning of our schools—have been stuck at the bottom of this pattern. Their salaries have failed to keep pace with the rising cost of living, and despite their critical role in classrooms, they continue to earn wages that make it difficult to survive in NYC.
That’s why this proposed City Council legislation is so significant—it breaks the pattern and establishes that paraprofessionals deserve to be compensated fairly, regardless of predetermined salary structures. By securing this $10,000 increase, we not only improve the financial stability of thousands of paras, but we also lay the groundwork for future fights to raise wages across all underpaid UFT bargaining units.
Understanding the Pay Gap
As I read through comments on social media there is a lot of confusion at to why one would want to even be permanent. So lets start with understanding the benefits of permanent status just along salary and benefits.
Right now, paraprofessionals are among the lowest-paid full-time education employees in the city. Consider the numbers:
A permanent first-year paraprofessional earns $34,698 per year plus benefits.
A per diem paraprofessional earns $182.12 per day but does not qualify for benefits.
Even if a per diem paraprofessional works all 180 instructional days, their total earnings would still be lower than a first-year permanent paraprofessional even before benefits have been factored in benefits. The way that pattern bargaining has had a negative historic impacted our paras is unacceptable, and this legislation is a critical step toward rectifying it.
A Track Record of Real Gains for Paraprofessionals
This fight is part of a larger movement to improve working conditions for paraprofessionals—something UFT leadership has been actively fighting for and winning over the past three years. Some of the major victories include:
✅ Automatic enrollment into the TRS pension system – Paraprofessionals no longer have to navigate bureaucratic red tape to secure their retirement benefits. Now, they are automatically enrolled in the Teachers' Retirement System.
✅ Inclusion in Teachers’ Choice allocations – For the first time ever, paraprofessionals now receive funding for classroom materials, recognizing their role as essential contributors to student learning.
✅ Stronger enforcement of workplace protections – UFT has fought to ensure paras are treated as professionals, enforcing existing contractual protections and holding administrators accountable when violations occur.
Each of these wins demonstrates the power of experienced leadership and strategic organizing—and securing this $10,000 raise is the next fight we must take on together.
A $10,000 Raise: A Step Toward a Living Wage
This proposed increase is not the final goal—it is a crucial step toward achieving a living wage for paraprofessionals. More importantly, it proves that we can push past the constraints of pattern bargaining, opening the door for similar efforts to raise wages for other underpaid bargaining units within UFT.
Achieving a living wage for paraprofessionals requires more than slogans—it takes strategic, experienced leadership that understands how to navigate the complex politics of NYC and fight for real gains. We are proving that it can be done.
Why This Matters for Every UFT Member
Some might ask, “If we win this for paraprofessionals, does that mean other members won’t get raises?” The answer is absolutely not. Winning this fight does not prevent us from demanding larger increases for all UFT members in future contract negotiations. In fact, it strengthens our ability to fight for better wages across the board.
Breaking pattern bargaining here sets a precedent—if we can achieve this for paras, we can use this momentum to win more for all members in the future.
Sign & Share: Let’s Get This Done
If we want to make this happen, we need every UFT member to sign and spread the word. This fight isn’t just about paraprofessionals—it’s about strengthening our entire union’s ability to win bigger fights in the future.
📢 Sign the petition now: Click here to sign
📢 Share it with your colleagues, friends, and family.
📢 Talk to your coworkers and make sure they sign too!
We win when we organize, mobilize, and fight together. Let’s break the pattern, raise wages, and demand the respect all UFT members deserve.