Mexican Unions Demand Direct Dialogue with President Sheinbaum on May 1st, International Workers Day

ByJessica Xantomila and Jared Laureles

This article by Jessica Xantomila and Jared Laureles originally appeared in the April 29, 2026 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.

Union leaders from various unions will meet with President Claudia Sheinbaum on May 1st, Labor Day, at the National Palace; but, unlike other years, this time the aim is for it to be a more direct dialogue where several of them raise the problems facing the working class.

In a meeting with the Secretary of Labor and Social Welfare, Marath Bolaños, last Monday, they expressed that while they support the actions of the federal government, they hope to have a closer relationship with the President and greater participation, instead of the traditional format of a meal, after the commemorative march and rally.

Rodolfo González, general secretary of the Regional Confederation of Mexican Workers (CROM), pointed out that although there has been dialogue, the labour sector never held a meeting to hear firsthand the needs of the workers and improve their conditions “in a more real way”.

“We never had an official meeting to learn about the needs of the working class in the government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and it seems to me that now the President (Sheinbaum) will probably take us into account and we will have a meeting that will be very beneficial for the labour movement, for Mexico and for the President as well.”

Arturo Zayún, leader of the National Union of Workers of Nacional Monte de Piedad, clarified that the details are being analyzed, such as the format and the number of union representatives who could speak.

González indicated that union representatives are working on an agenda of priority issues for the sector and “giving our support and backing to the President in her defense of national sovereignty.”

In the private meeting with Bolaños, union representatives of pilots, electricians, university students and labour unions expressed grievances such as the lag of contractual wages compared to the minimum wage, the reduction of taxes on some benefits and that pensions are paid in minimum wages, not in unit of measurement and updating.

For his part, Jesús Ortiz, leader of the Mexican Air Pilots Union, expressed his concern that the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation “intends to authorize again” the hiring of foreign pilots through outsourcing.