Oaxaca teachers' union begins lifting protest camp after vote to end strike

The Section 22 of the SNTE teachers' union in Oaxaca is starting to dismantle its protest camp in the city center. Preliminary results from a consultation with its members indicate that the majority favor ending the indefinite strike and protests. Out of those consulted, 12,818 teachers voted to cease the labor stoppage, while 3,594 supported continuing the strike. This decision comes despite a significant number of teachers finding the government's responses to their demands insufficient. Specifically, 10,596 teachers considered the government's replies minimal and inadequate, 5,249 deemed them null, and only 301 found them sufficient. The union initiated its strike on May 25, 2026, which involved a sit-in in Oaxaca's main square and protests in the historic center. Their actions also included occupying Oaxaca's international airport, a Pemex fuel terminal, toll booths, and marches. The state assembly of Section 22 had previously agreed to consult its bases again on whether to continue the strike. The union leadership also presented recent proposals from the federal and state governments for consideration. The preliminary results suggest a move towards ending the demonstrations, though the final decision rests with the State Assembly. The federal government's proposals include providing economic resources to Section 22 to address educational needs and combat educational lag in Oaxaca, with a budget equivalent to that of the 2025-2026 school year. However, the details of direct financial aid remain unspecified.

“

the great majority of teachers leaned towards ending the indefinite work stoppage and the protests