Mexico: National Strike of the CNTE
On the 1st of June at 09:00, the national strike coordinated by the National Coordination of Education Workers (CNTE) set off, starting of with a massive march from the Angel of Independence in Mexico City. According to reports, the march was some 10,000 people strong, including several other organizations and have already been met by State forces attempting to repress and prevent the demonstration from reaching the Main Square of Mexico City.
The CNTE have presented their demands ahead of the indefinite national strike, which include:
- Repeal of the ISSSTE Law of 2007, which transformed the pension system for state workers.
- Elimination of the educational reforms promoted in the governments of Enrique Peña Nieto and Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
- Reopening of the tripartite table between the State Institute of Public Education of Oaxaca (IEEPO), the Ministry of Public Education (SEP) and President Claudia Sheinbaum.
- A 100% salary increase matching the base salary.
- Cancellation of the AFORES-UMAS system and a return to the previous retirement and pension system.
The march that started at the Angel of Independence and moved toward the Main Square, carrying in front a banner calling for the boycott of the 2026 Football World Cup which the CNTE denounces as a complete disregard from the State regarding the pressing needs of the people, prioritizing instead massive infrastructure projects in relation to the World Cup. A sit-in on the Main Square of Mexico City is now being carried out, marking the formal initiation of the indefinite national strike of the CNTE.
Teachers have also occupied toll booths leading in to the city, in order to raise money so more people can make the travel to the city.
The protests, which started a week ago with the CNTE branch of Oaxaca, has intensified after the arrival of the rest of the branches of the CNTE arrived in the capital, and was met with repression from the State forces, who have deployed riot vans, riot police and used rubber bullets against the demonstrators. Sheinbaum is showing her anti-popular nature and have been criminalizing the protests, stating that the strikers and demonstrators are “infiltrators inciting violence”. Two protesters have been hospitalized so far, with one suffering a serious eye injury due to a rubber bullet fired by State forces.
We recently published statements from Sol Rojo Mexico and the Mural Newspaper regarding the call for a general strike and a boycott of the 2026 Football World Cup, which you can read here:
