Mexican teachers' union ends talks without deal, plans return amid ongoing demands

The National Union of Education Workers (CNTE) in Mexico has concluded a nearly four-hour meeting with federal officials without securing substantive agreements, prompting the union to lift its blockades. However, teachers are set to return for another round of negotiations on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.

Key demands from CNTE include a direct meeting with Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum, the abrogation of the 2007 ISSSTE Law, the elimination of the Unit for the System for Teacher Career Development (USICAMM), and the repeal of the educational reform. Federal authorities have committed to responding on Wednesday at 10:00 AM regarding the possibility of addressing these core demands and arranging a meeting with the president.

The meeting was attended by Secretary of Government Rosa Icela Rodríguez, Secretary of Public Education Mario Delgado, and ISSSTE Director General Martí Batres Guadarrama, among other officials. Despite the lengthy discussions, CNTE leaders stated that no significant progress was made, and a date for a meeting with President Sheinbaum remains undefined.

"Today, after 18 months, we still have no agenda with the President of the Republic. We inform the people of Mexico that the stonewalling continues and there is no response for a meeting to address the central demands of CNTE," stated a representative. The union also condemned recent acts of violence during their mobilizations, holding the federal government responsible for the repression of its members and demanding full reparations for injured teachers.