CNTE teachers occupy toll booths in Chiapas, charge reduced fees

Teachers belonging to the CNTE union have occupied toll booths on highways in Chiapas, Mexico, as part of their ongoing national strike. The action, now in its nineteenth day, saw hundreds of educators gather at toll plazas on the routes from Chiapa de Corzo and Ocozocoautla de Espinosa to Arriaga.

For five hours, the protesters controlled traffic, permitting private and public transport vehicles to pass. However, passage was granted only after payment of a toll fee that was lower than the standard rate set by the facility's administration. This tactic aims to generate funds for the movement while disrupting normal traffic flow.

The CNTE's protests in Tuxtla Gutiérrez have expanded beyond toll booths, including blockades at a Pemex distribution plant and the Ángel Albino Corzo international airport. They have also blocked the four main entrances to Tuxtla Gutiérrez and occupied toll booths connecting the city to San Cristóbal de las Casas. The union maintains a central camp in the state capital, with tents set up in front of government buildings, the legislature, and the San Marcos cathedral.