CNTE National Strike is Opportunity to Avoid World Cup Strike

ByRafael García

This article by Rafael García originally appeared in the March 5, 2026 edition of El Sol de México.

AFOREs (retirement fund administrators) are private companies who manage pensions as individual accounts, extremely restrictive and profitable for finance capital: they were introduced in 1997 and based on the privatized pensions introduced in Chile by the fascist Pinochet. Recent figures reveal 51% of AFORE funds are used to buy Mexican state debt, which means that Mexican citizens are paying significant commissions for a private pension system where finance capital invests over half of their money in sovereign bonds. Many unions and workers organizations have called for the return of a public pension system, with the CNTE suggesting they would voluntarily move all of their pensions Mexico’s public bank and allow the funds to be used for social purposes and to build public infrastructure.

The Secretary General of Section 9 of the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE), Pedro Hernández, assured that the 72-hour national strike, which will begin this March 18, will be an opportunity for the Government of Mexico to resolve their demands and avoid a national strike during the inauguration of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will take place on June 11 in the capital.

He explained that the main demands are the repeal of the 2007 ISSSTE Law and certain points of the 2019 Education Reform. A national strike by these teachers is planned for March 18-20, beginning with a march from the Angel of Independence to the Zócalo in Mexico City, and concluding with a “courtesy visit” to the embassies of the countries that have attacked Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, and Palestine.

Pedro Hernández added that a national strike could be staged in Mexico City’s Zócalo during the World Cup opening ceremony if these demands are not met. “We understand that the World Cup is a window to the world, where everyone will be watching what happens. We hope to have a response by the opening ceremony, because if not, we will have to resort to a national strike,” said Hernández.

He warned that, in order to prevent this from happening, there would have to be a “clear” path from the federal government for the repeal of the 2007 ISSSTE Law.

Pedro Hernández, Secretary General of Section 9 of the CNTE

The Pension Situation

The CNTE member recalled that before this law, which came into effect on April 1, 2007, education workers, as well as those who contributed to the ISSSTE, had a solidarity-based retirement model, which meant that it was the State’s responsibility to provide retirement benefits to the workers.

In contrast, with this new law, workers “self-pension” through individual accounts managed by AFORES, distributed among nine private and one public financial institutions, so retirement depends on what those who worked saved during their years of service.

On May 26, 2025, the president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, stated that repealing this law is not possible because there are not enough resources.

In this regard, Pedro Hernández stated that there are 8.1 trillion pesos in workers’ savings held in these individual accounts, and that Banco Azteca holds 25% of these funds, which allows financial institutions like Banamex and Banorte to reap extraordinary profits. “We believe that a dignified pension system for all workers can be reinstated.”

2019 Education Reform Complaints

Likewise, the Secretary General of Section 9 of the CNTE explained that they are also seeking to eliminate some points of the Educational Reform approved in 2019, such as the implementation of the Unit of the System for the Career of Teachers (USICAMM), a new admission and promotion system for teachers.

This is based on the claim that it does not recognize the permanence, seniority, and participation of teachers in obtaining appointments.

Pedro Hernández added that they are also demanding a salary increase and greater participation of teachers in the country’s educational decisions.

Who Owns the AFORES?
There are 10 AFORES, that as of 2025 manage more than 7.18 trillion pesos (401 Billion USD). The AFORES system, modeled on Chilean fascist dictator Pinochet’s privatization of pensions, have been criticized by international pension industry observers for lacking sufficient oversight. The Mexican government has cited the complexity of the system as a reason not to de-privatize it, which begs the question, if the pensions are too complex to return to the public, how can they be meaningfully overseen and regulated?

AFORES accounts are mandatory for every worker: they cannot withdraw from the system or manage the fund themselves or collectively with their union, such as with the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, which manages over $188 billion USD).

1. AFORE Coppel – Coppel Group
2. AFORE Azteca – Grupo Salinas, owned by Ricardo Salinas Pliego, an ultra-right wing billionaire who is fighting in the courts to not pay the 35.450 billion pesos ($1.8 billion USD) in taxes he owes to the Mexican government.
3. Citibanamex Afore – Citigroup —in the process of being sold (USA)
4. Afore XXI-Banorte – Banorte
5. SURA – SURA Group (Colombia)
6. Profuturo – BAL Group (owners of the high-end department store El Palacio de Hierro)
7. Principal – Principal Financial Group (USA)
8. Invercap – Private investment fund
9. PensionISSSTE – The only public pension, limited to state workers
10. Inbursa – owned by Carlos Slim, one of the richest businessmen in the world, who advocates ending the public pension system and abolishing the retirement age in Mexico.