LIVE: Mexican education sector launches strike, rejecting 9% pay rise

Nationwide walkout paralyzes hundreds of thousands of schools

Tens of thousands of teachers from Section 22 and other sections gathered on Mexico City's Reforma Avenue, with protest demonstrations occurring at hundreds of thousands of schools across the country.

Week-long Oaxaca strike met with repression

Section 22 has maintained a strike for one week in Oaxaca state, with representatives in Mexico City stating they received "more repression than a response" from authorities.

Rejection of 9% salary increase

Workers dismissed the government's 9% pay rise offer as insufficient while highlighting that the 2007 ISPE pension reform condemned state workers to "miserable pensions" amounting to withdrawal rather than dignified retirement.

Demand for repeal of 2007 pension law

Teachers called for approval of a new ISPE law to restore pre-2007 retirement benefits, arguing the current system enriches pension funds at the expense of workers who contributed for decades.

"Progressive" government accused of repression

Protesters highlighted contradictions of a government claiming democratic credentials while erecting metal fences and "human walls" to block access to the Zócalo, preventing activists from reaching the historic protest space.

Alleged favoritism toward corporate interests

Speakers condemned President Claudia Sheinbaum for allegedly meeting immediately with BlackRock's president in April while refusing for months to establish working groups with education workers demanding pension reforms.

World Cup spending criticized amid austerity

Protesters accused the administration of prioritizing the 2026 World Cup—which they called a "World Cup of plunder"—over teacher welfare, suggesting the event serves wealthy tourists and corporations rather than domestic workers.

Section 22 vows continued presence

Oaxaca's Section 22 pledged to maintain mobilizations in the Zócalo until the government resolves their demands, asserting "whoever governs, rights must be defended."

Tribute to fallen comrade

The movement honored teacher Ignacio Ismael Arriaga Villar of Section 22, who died in precarious health during the sit-in setup, while warning the government bears responsibility for any casualties during the mobilization.