Municipal police officers in Oaxaca de Juárez seized control of the Municipal Palace and the force’s headquarters this Wednesday, in addition to blocking streets with patrol cars, to demand the creation of a Pension Law, salary increases, and better working conditions.
The officers accused the capital city council of failing to honor agreements signed as early as 2025 intended to guarantee a dignified retirement system; they further denounced that, despite the risks they face daily, they continue to lack job security and see no improvements in their working conditions.
The protest caused traffic disruptions in the Oaxacan capital after officers positioned patrol cars across Morelos Street—near the municipal headquarters—to block vehicular traffic.
The disgruntled officers noted that, as early as last year, they signed a memorandum of agreements with municipal authorities led by Mayor Raymundo Chagoya Villanueva, in which the city council pledged to draft legislation guaranteeing a retirement and pension system for public security personnel.
However, they charged that—one year after that commitment was made—there has been no concrete progress, and the only official response has been that the project remains “under review,” despite the fact that the officers themselves had submitted a legislative proposal.
“We put our lives at risk every day, yet we have no guarantee of a dignified retirement,” representatives of the police force stated during an impromptu press conference held in front of the municipal facilities.
In addition to the creation of a Pension Law, the officers demanded salary increases, respect for their labor rights, and the hiring of more personnel, arguing that the current force size is insufficient to ensure security for the capital city and its 13 municipal agencies.
During the protest, the officers also chanted slogans against Noé Jara—brother of Oaxaca Governor Salomón Jara Cruz—who arrived at the scene as part of a city council delegation, despite having officially stepped down from his position as Municipal Secretary of Government last year.
“Noé Jara out!” shouted the protesters, questioning under what authority he was participating in the negotiations with the police force. Lawsuits Filed by Retired Police Officers in Mexico City Rise by 88%
The police officers also reported alleged labor abuses, favoritism, and misconduct within the municipal force, in addition to charging that dialogue sessions with authorities have dragged on without yielding any results.
Despite the mobilization, representatives of the disgruntled officers assured that surveillance and patrol operations throughout the city were not completely suspended.
“There is no total work stoppage; services continue to be provided, and the public is not being neglected,” stated one of the police spokespersons, who emphasized that the protest aims to exert pressure in order to obtain formal responses from the municipal government.
To date, the Oaxaca de Juárez City Council has not publicly announced any concrete agreements reached with the protesters, nor has it disclosed any potential solutions to their demands.
Source: oem
