CNTE Protests: Roadblocks & Disruptions Across Mexico

Members of the National Coordination of Education Workers (CNTE) have disrupted transportation, toll booths, government offices, and commercial activity across multiple Mexican states, according to reports from Mexico City on Tuesday. The protests, occurring alongside an ongoing sit-in at the Zócalo central plaza, are impacting Oaxaca, Guerrero, Chiapas, and Yucatán.

The CNTE initiated the disruptions as part of a 72-hour strike, demanding the repeal of the 2007 ISSSTE law and changes to the country’s education policy, according to reporting from La Razón. The protests began with a concentration in the Zócalo, where protesters erected tents in anticipation of a march from the Ángel de la Independencia.

On Tuesday, CNTE members marched through central Mexico City, moving along Paseo de la Reforma, Avenida Juárez, Eje Central, and Calle 5 de Mayo. Authorities advised motorists to seek alternative routes, including Artículo 123, Avenida Hidalgo, Balderas, Venustiano Carranza, Donceles, Isabel la Católica, and Eje 1 Norte, as traffic was significantly affected.

A confrontation between CNTE members and Mexico City transit police occurred on Calle 5 de Mayo, with video footage showing protesters pushing against a police vehicle. The CNTE is likewise protesting alleged irregularities in the election of delegates within the National Union of Education Workers (SNTE), as reported by Sur Acapulco.

Pedro Hernández Morales, secretary general of section 9 of the CNTE, condemned the situation in Palestine and intervention in Cuba while announcing the Wednesday protests, according to El Universal. The CNTE is also seeking a 100% salary increase and improved working conditions.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the CNTE continues to maintain its presence in the Zócalo, with no immediate resolution to the ongoing strike and disruptions reported.