Six Months of the Nacional Monte de Piedad Strike

ByMario Luna

This article by Mario Luna originally appeared in the April 1, 2026 edition of El Sol de San Juan del Río.

This April 1st, 2026, marks six months since the strike began at the 302 branches of Nacional Monte de Piedad across the country, including the one located in the municipality of San Juan del Río. The strike began in October 2025 due to violations of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and labor rights, according to accusations made by the National Union of Employees and Workers (SNET).

Miguel Ángel Pérez Ramírez, delegate of branch 89 in the San Juan district, said that 183 days after the strike began, the employer and the union representatives have not reached any agreements, especially regarding what he described as the arbitrary and unilateral allocation of vacancies, which he considers the central reason for the ongoing conflict.

“We haven’t been able to reach an agreement on the key issue. Unfortunately, since we haven’t reached an agreement on that point, the strike continues. For us, if an agreement were reached to produce the bulletins and assignments as they should be, based on the bylaws and the collective bargaining agreement, we would return to work immediately (…). If the institution, the administration, and the board of trustees reverse their position and act in accordance with the law, we will return,” he commented.

Photo: Cesar Ortiz / El Sol de San Juan del Río

He noted that, so far during the strike, the unionized workers assigned to the San Juan del Río branch have not received any pay and indicated that their survival has been thanks to selling items on the street while on duty and receiving in-kind support from some customers. While acknowledging that this past six months has been difficult, he affirmed that the workers remain committed to fighting to defend and uphold their labour rights.

He also highlighted that they have found support from other labour unions, such as the Unified Union of Workers in the Service of the Municipality of San Juan del Río (SUTSMSJR) and the Mexican Telephone Workers Union (STRM). He reiterated that the strike is not intended to affect customers, but rather to stop abuses by employers and ensure respect for the labour rights of the rank-and-file workers.

“It is essential that management and our national representatives understand that the core of this strike is not simply to reverse arbitrary measures, but to guarantee that the substance of our collective bargaining agreement is respected (…). We are not seeking partial concessions. Labour peace and the end of this mobilization depend on an institutional response that guarantees full compliance with the agreed-upon terms. The career paths of the workers and their opportunities for professional development are non-negotiable,” he emphasized.