Teachers Union Files Lawsuit Against NYC And Mayor Adams Over School Budget Cuts

The United Federation of Teachers has taken legal action against NYC and Mayor Eric Adams to prevent the proposed cuts from the city's school budget.

The United Federation of Teachers has taken legal action against New York City and Mayor Eric Adams to prevent the proposed $2 billion cuts from the city’s school budget. The lawsuit follows the Adams administration’s announcement earlier this year of nearly $550 million in cuts for the current fiscal year, with additional plans for cuts that could reach $2 billion, per a UFT press release on Dec. 21.

The lawsuit represents the second significant challenge to Mayor Adams regarding budget cuts, with DC 37, the city’s largest public sector teachers union, filing a similar lawsuit earlier this month. UFT President Michael Mulgrew criticized the administration, saying, “The administration can’t go around touting the tourism recovery and the return of the city’s pre-pandemic jobs and then create a fiscal crisis and cut education because of its mismanagement of the asylum seeker problem.”

In response to the lawsuits, Mayor Adams acknowledged the union’s duty to represent their members and noted that disputes among friends sometimes lead to legal action. He mentioned his planned call with Henry Garrido, president of DC 37, emphasizing their professional relationship.

The UFT’s lawsuit contends that the city is legally barred from reducing school funding unless overall city revenues experience a decline. According to the press release, New York City’s revenues increased by $5 billion last year. Additionally, the lawsuit argues that the proposed cuts violate students’ state constitutional right to a “sound basic education.”

The legal challenge comes when education funding and quality education have become focal points in the ongoing discussions surrounding the city’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The UFT’s action addresses concerns about the potential adverse effects of budget cuts on the city’s education system.