SHEINBAUM: DIALOGUE WITH CNTE IS PERMANENT

This article by Arturo Sánchez and Alma E. Muñoz originally appeared in the May 21, 2025 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier leftist daily newspaper.

What are the CNTE’s Demands?
Immediate repeal of the 2007 ISSSTE Law; restoration of a solidarity-based, collective, and intergenerational pension system; the full recognition of retirement based on years of service (28 for women and 30 for men); the payment of pensions based on the minimum wage rather than on UMAs; the elimination of AFOREs as a privatization model (AFOREs are private companies who managed pensions as individual accounts, extremely restrictive and profitable for finance capital); and a profound restructuring of ISSSTE to restore its social character.

Mexico City. Amid the “takeover” of access to the National Palace by the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE), President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo affirmed this Wednesday that dialogue with the dissident teachers is ongoing and affirmed that her government is addressing the teachers’ demands, such as a 10 percent salary increase for teachers in September, in addition to addressing issues such as pensions and teacher mobility.

The president responded to the CNTE’s actions, which forced the press conference to be held virtually this morning. “We have never been closed to dialogue, and what we are proposing is the possibility of meeting on Friday,” Sheinbaum Pardo stated, referring to the possibility of holding a meeting with the CNTE leadership at the Ministry of the Interior (SG) next Friday at noon.

Sheinbaum reiterated that the dialogue with the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Public Education has been “open from the outset,” and that the meeting with her will be finalized in the coming days.

As the morning session was taking place, teachers removed the barrier around the National Palace, and access is now permitted.

Despite the protests, President Sheinbaum insisted on her administration’s commitment to dialogue. “It is very important that all citizens, and especially the teachers of Mexico, be aware of this situation,” she emphasized.

Sheinbaum emphasized that her government believes in dialogue, that it will not give in to any provocation, and that it will not repress any demonstrations. “That’s how we will continue to work every day.”

Sheinbaum acknowledged that, while there has been progress and a willingness to address the demands, there are budgetary limitations. “There are issues where we cannot advance further because the budget doesn’t cover some of the requests being made, but dialogue is open on an ongoing basis,” he explained.

The Prime Minister detailed the agreements and proposals her government has put on the table with teachers. She highlighted the 9 percent salary increase this year, to which an additional 1 percent will be added starting in September for teaching staff, totaling a 10 percent increase.

Regarding pensions, Sheinbaum addressed teachers’ concerns in the so-called “tenth transitional provision,” proposing an “age freeze” and continuing the dialogue to seek further support. She emphasized that, thanks to the Pension Fund for Well-being, teachers with individual accounts who retire with incomes below the average IMSS salary will automatically receive a supplement to achieve a decent pension.

The president also addressed the replacement of the Teacher Career System (SICAM), which is generating discontent within the union. “We have proposed that, in order to replace SICAM, we will speak with all of Mexico’s teachers at the grassroots level to find out how it will be replaced,” Sheinbaum stated, assuring that the decision will be made through direct consultation with teachers.

Another point is teacher mobility, a process currently facing “bureaucratic problems.” The President proposed a complete overhaul of this system, taking seniority into account as the main criterion, a long-standing demand of the teaching profession. They will meet with the Ministry of Public Education to define the details of this change.

In addition, Sheinbaum announced an additional week of vacation for elementary school teachers, acknowledging that “they practically had no vacation time.”

He also highlighted the coordinated work with the states, citing the example of Baja California Sur, where 500 positions will be opened for teachers who receive their salaries through the state, a long-standing demand.