Colegio de Bachilleres Union Will Close Roads in CDMX & Mexico State

ByCarolina Gómez Mena

This article by Carolina Gómez Mena was originally published in the March 20, 2026 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.

Armando Vargas Rodríguez, general secretary of the National Independent Union of Workers of the College of Baccalaureate (SINTCB), announced that in the absence of agreements to end the strike that began at the first minute of March 19, next week, union members will close various roads in Mexico City and the State of Mexico.

In a press conference, the union leader explained that this action is part of the agreements reached yesterday at the meeting of the SINTCB National Executive Committee. The action plan consists of three main points: continuing negotiations, launching an information campaign within the union to encourage workers to unite at all facilities and protect the established encampments, and blocking streets.

He explained that the purpose of closing avenues is to make the complaint of the workers of the College of Baccalaureate (Colbach) “as public as possible and for society to know the reality that our colleagues are going through.”

Because the institution has 20 campuses, 17 of them in Mexico City, three in the State of Mexico, plus two general offices, the protests will take place in the vicinity of those locations.

Because the institution has 20 campuses, 17 of them in Mexico City, three in the State of Mexico, plus two general offices, the protests will take place in the vicinity of those locations.

“The order is for each workplace to close a road near the facilities, and the other proposal is to close roads that are of great importance such as Periférico, Circuito Interior and Calzada de Tlalpan; we are planning to start on Monday.”

He argued that the work stoppage occurred because violations of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) persist.

“It is not the union’s fault, but rather the intransigence of the authorities of this institution who have violated the provisions of our Collective Bargaining Agreement. Day after day, workers at the different campuses and in the institution’s general offices have witnessed how directors and area managers infringe upon workers’ rights. As a result, and due to the workers’ frustration with this situation, they decided to call a strike for non-compliance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement.”

The leader emphasized that “we gave the authorities an opportunity to address our demands, but there were no responses. Because of this, we had to close the facilities at the first minute of March 19th.”

He commented that yesterday the Federal Conciliation Center summoned them to a meeting at the Ministry of Public Education. The Negotiating Committee attended the meeting and presented a proposal to the 14-point list of demands. “However, they didn’t convince us, because they didn’t come close to what we’re asking for, which is to respect the clauses in those 14 points.”

The meeting began at 7:00 p.m. and concluded at 2:00 a.m. “We discussed and analyzed each proposal, and the union presented counterproposals, but in the end, we couldn’t reach an agreement on the issues we were summoned to address. Today, the College of Baccalaureate Studies promised to send us a counterproposal; we haven’t received it yet, but perhaps it will be presented to us during the day.”

The Colbach has an enrollment of approximately 95,000 students and a teaching and administrative staff of 6,500 employees.

Among the union’s demands are the release of 241 administrative positions for hiring or internal processes; retroactive payment for changes in teaching categories to August 18, 2025; and the issuance of updated appointments for teaching and administrative staff.

Another requirement is the change in employment status of administrative staff covering temporary positions to permanent ones, in case of legal release of the position they occupy, and regarding the issue of schedules for teachers, in case of modification it must be done with prior notice and acceptance of the teacher and the Union.

Other topics include: delivery of materials and work clothes for the exercise, as well as prior training in subjects related to the profile, once the teacher agrees to teach them in a different Academy, in the following academic semester.

Likewise, justification of omissions of entry and exit at Campuses and General Office headquarters; no to the removal of the work material of the administrative staff hired by Colbach and payment of invoices for orthopedic devices and prostheses.