CNTE Announces Indefinite Strike in June During World Cup

ByLilian Hernández Osorio

This article by Lilian Hernández Osorio originally appeared in the April 27, 2026 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.

Following the lack of concrete responses from President Claudia Sheinbaum to the demands of the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE), the National Representative Assembly (ANR) of the dissident teachers agreed to ratify the outbreak of the indefinite national strike during the World Cup in June, “with the purpose of boycotting it” so that their demands are met.

The agreement states that within the framework of this world championship, classes will be suspended indefinitely as a “political necessity given the lack of response to the demands for the repeal of the Peña-AMLO education reform and the 2007 ISSSTE Law.”

As part of the agreements approved early yesterday morning at said assembly, the more than 200 teachers representing the sections of Baja California Sur, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Mexico City, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, Morelos, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Tabasco, Veracruz, Yucatán and Zacatecas decided to endorse this national strike.

The teachers indicated that another National Assembly will be held on Saturday, May 16, in which the date and modality of participation in said indefinite national strike will be defined.

Another march will take place on May 15, Teachers’ Day, with similar marches in other states, starting at 9AM from the Higher Normal School, proceeding to the Zócalo in Mexico City, as a celebration of the Day of the Combative Teacher. Photo: Germán Canseco

Likewise, the teachers of the coordinating group agreed to hold a march on May 1st, as part of International Workers’ Day, which will depart from the Angel of Independence to the Zócalo in the capital at 9 a.m.

In addition, it was established that another march will be on May 15, Teacher’s Day, with replicas in the states, at 9 a.m., departing from the Higher Normal School towards the Zócalo of Mexico City, as a celebration of the Day of the combative teacher.

With a view to carrying out a national strike, the representatives of the CNTE also agreed to continue with “agitation” actions, as well as seek a policy of alliances with other unions to strengthen this strike.

On May 1st, the day they will march in Mexico City, the CNTE plans to deliver the 2026 national petition and hold a press conference to state their position on the demands of the dissident teachers and on the social problems affecting the country.

In the list of agreements endorsed early yesterday morning, the ANR also states “to develop a political position rejecting the decree of the universal health service that the neoliberal continuity government is trying to impose.”

Finally, they agreed to hold a posthumous tribute to teacher Enrique Ávila Carrillo, writer and founder of the CNTE, on Saturday, May 16.