The National Coordinator of Education Workers of Mexico (CNTE) announced an indefinite national strike on Sunday, beginning June 1st, and warned that it will take advantage of the 2026 World Cup to intensify its protests, after rejecting the 9% salary increase announced by the Mexican government.
At a press conference, leaders of the CNTE—one of the main teachers’ unions in Mexico—accused the federal government of responding to teachers’ demands with mere “crumbs.”
Isael González, of the CNTE in Chiapas, explained that the strike will begin on June 1st with a march from the Angel of Independence to the Zócalo in Mexico City, where they will set up an indefinite encampment and define further protest actions in the following days.
“The eyes of the world will be on Mexico City, and there we will be demonstrating our discontent,” he emphasized.
On June 11, Mexico City will host the opening match of the World Cup, which Mexico is co-hosting with the United States and Canada.
González asserted that the strike will only end if the government repeals the ISSSTE Law and the education reform, and accused the authorities of failing to keep the promises made to the teachers.
He also reiterated that the teachers did not request an early end to the school year and maintained that the national strike “is a necessity, not a whim.”
Pedro Hernández, from Section 9 of the CNTE, added that the increase announced by the government on Friday “doesn’t really represent 9%,” asserting that a large portion corresponds to benefits and that the effective increase would be close to 4.3%, barely above the projected inflation rate for 2026.
“These crumbs (…) are unacceptable,” he said.
Elvira Veleces Morales, coordinator of Section 14 in Guerrero, stated that the mobilizations aim to “make the teachers’ struggle visible,” taking advantage of the World Cup “window of opportunity,” and maintained that any disruption during the tournament “will depend on the willingness of the Federal Government” to address their demands.
Section 22 in Oaxaca (southern Mexico), one of the CNTE’s main strongholds, announced that it will begin mobilizations on May 25, although it confirmed its participation in the national strike called for June 1.
Among the union’s main demands are the repeal of the 2007 ISSSTE Law and the elimination of the education reform implemented during the administrations of former presidents Enrique Peña Nieto (2012-2018) and Andrés Manuel López Obrador (2018-2024).
Teachers are also demanding changes to the teacher retirement system, including a return to a solidarity-based pension and retirement scheme based on years of service, as well as a 100% salary increase.
Source: cnnespanol
