The Coordinadora Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación (CNTE) is maintaining its national strike and protest camp in Mexico City's historic center.
The continuation of the strike signals a deepening rift between the federal government and one of Mexico's most influential labor organizations. The standoff centers on demands for systemic legislative changes and direct access to the presidency.
The union has spent 15 days [1] protesting across various states and the Zócalo, the main square in the Centro Histórico of Mexico City. Union leaders said they will reinforce the plantón, or sit-in, to maintain pressure on the administration.
A primary demand of the CNTE is the repeal of the 2007 [2] ISSSTE law and its associated reforms. The law governs the social security and pensions of state workers, and the union argues the reforms have negatively impacted teachers.
Union members are demanding a direct dialogue with President Claudia Sheinbaum to resolve the dispute. The CNTE said it is frustrated over how the government has communicated regarding these negotiations.
"Si se va a cancelar el diálogo, que se informe de manera formal, no en la Mañanera," a CNTE spokesperson said [3]. The remark refers to the president's daily morning press conferences, suggesting that formal negotiations should not be handled via public briefings.
The union remains committed to the national strike until a formal meeting is secured and the 2007 [2] law is addressed. The protest continues to disrupt activities in the heart of the capital, while teachers in multiple states remain off the job.
“"Si se va a cancelar el diálogo, que se informe de manera formal, no en la Mañanera"”
The CNTE's refusal to end the strike despite 15 days of protest highlights a significant challenge for President Sheinbaum's early administration. By demanding the repeal of the 2007 ISSSTE law, the union is pushing for a reversal of a long-standing pension framework, which could have substantial fiscal implications for the state if conceded.
