CNTE Sets Up Protest Outside Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies

ByJared Laureles, César Arellano and Fernando Camacho

This article by Jared Laureles, César Arellano and Fernando Camacho originally appeared in the November 13, 2025 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.

Mexico City. After setting up a protest camp outside the Chamber of Deputies, following a march from the Zócalo, the leadership of the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE) reiterated its call to President Claudia Sheinbaum to resume “direct and decisive” dialogue to address the teachers’ demands.

The repeal of the 2007 Issste Law and the educational reform of the government of Enrique Peña Nieto and the previous administration, as well as the elimination of the Law of the System for the Career of Teachers (Usicamm) are part of their central demands.

At a rally held outside the San Lázaro Legislative Palace, on Congreso de la Unión Avenue, they warned that if their demands are not met, they will carry out a 72-hour strike and even consider a national strike.

“We are building an emerging national mobilization route with staggered 24, 48, and 72-hour strikes, aiming to reactivate the next stage of the National Strike due to the lack of solutions to the demands for the repeal of the 2007 ISSSTE and Peña-AMLO educational reforms, the reinstatement of the central negotiating table between the CNTE and the President of the Republic, as well as addressing the tripartite tables of the different contingents with a decisive character,” emphasized Elvira Veleces, general secretary of section 14 of Guerrero.

Accompanied by the leaders of the teachers’ union in Oaxaca and Mexico City, Yenny Aracely Pérez Martínez and Pedro Hernández, Veleces indicated that, as approved by the National Representative Assembly, the dissident teachers’ union called on the State to resolve their demands because, otherwise, “we will become active” in the context of the 2026 World Cup.

“If there is no solution, there will be no World Cup,” the teachers declared.

A contingent from the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE) marched from the Zócalo and arrived outside the Chamber of Deputies, where they set up a protest camp. Photo: Germán Canseco

The CNTE leadership pointed out that the federal government “has only offered delaying tactics; its statements are far from the reality experienced by thousands of teachers throughout the country.”

He also criticized the authorities for seeking to “confuse and confront society, discrediting the legitimate nature of social protest, by claiming that we will take actions to harm the population.”

As part of the 48-hour strike, they indicated that the teachers are replicating their protests in other states where the Coordinator has a presence, such as Oaxaca, Chiapas, Michoacán and Zacatecas, among others, where they are carrying out the “liberation” of toll booths at different points on highways.

Accompanied by solidarity organizations, the teachers also demanded an increase in the budget for the education, health, and social security sectors.

In the vicinity of the Chamber of Deputies, teachers from various states across the country have begun setting up their tents and tarpaulins as part of their 48-hour protest.

Members of section 22 of Oaxaca indicated that educators from various states are expected to continue arriving throughout the day.