CNTE Launches National Strike on June 1, Teachers March on Mexico City

Mexico City became the focal point of a national education strike on Monday, June 1, as thousands of teachers from the National Education Workers' Coordinator (CNTE) launched a massive march. The demonstration, starting from the Ángel de la Independencia, aimed to reach the Zócalo, the city's main square.

The CNTE's national strike is a direct demand for the government of President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo to ensure the social security of education workers. Teachers also seek a fundamental transformation of a system they argue prioritizes financial interests over human and social rights. This protest is a significant challenge to the current administration's educational policies.

Teachers from various states, including Oaxaca, Chiapas, Zacatecas, Quintana Roo, and the State of Mexico, converged on the capital for the demonstration. Their protest specifically targets the ongoing educational reform and the controversial 2007 ISSSTE Law, which they believe undermines their rights and well-being. The scale of the mobilization underscores deep dissatisfaction within the teaching community.

In response to the planned march, authorities in Mexico City took measures to control access to the Zócalo. By Sunday night, metal barriers were erected, blocking entry to several streets leading to the central square. This action highlights the government's concern about the potential impact and scale of the teachers' protest.