Mexico's Secretary of Public Education, Mario Delgado, presented a series of labor and salary advancements for the country's teachers this week.
These announcements come at a critical moment as the government attempts to prevent a national strike announced by the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE). The tension between the state and the union underscores the ongoing struggle to balance systemic educational reform with the labor demands of the teaching workforce.
Delgado said the administration has focused on strengthening teacher autonomy and implementing the New Mexican School model. He said the government has worked to eliminate the 2013 educational reform, which had been a primary point of contention for labor unions for years.
According to the secretary, more than 1.2 million teachers have been granted permanent status, allowing them to recover labor rights and purchasing power [1]. This process of "basificación" is part of a broader effort by the Fourth Transformation government to stabilize employment for educators across the country.
Beyond job security, the government highlighted improvements in the retirement system. Delgado said teachers now have access to early retirement and increased mobility within the labor market. These measures are intended to address long-standing grievances regarding pension stability, and professional growth.
Despite these claims of progress, the CNTE continues to push for further concessions. The government continues to hold working tables to discuss specific demands regarding salaries and the details of the educational reform. Delgado said the administration remains open to dialogue to ensure the stability of the national school system, though the threat of a national strike remains imminent.
These efforts are framed as a response to the specific demands of the CNTE, aiming to demonstrate that the current administration has provided unprecedented support for the teaching profession.
“More than 1.2 million teachers have been granted permanent status.”
The Mexican government is utilizing a strategy of tangible labor concessions—such as permanent contracts and pension flexibility—to neutralize the political leverage of the CNTE. By framing these as wins for the 'Fourth Transformation,' the administration seeks to decouple the union's professional grievances from a broader political movement, attempting to maintain educational continuity and avoid the disruption of a national strike.
