University of Sonora Union Demands 50% Salary Increase; Doesn’t Rule out Strike

ByCristina Gómez Lima

This article by Cristina Gómez Lima originally appeared in the February 17, 2026 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.

Hermosillo, Sonora. A 50 percent salary increase, a review of contractual clauses, and improvements in benefits are part of the list of demands that the Union of Workers and Employees of the University of Sonora (STEUS) presented to the university administration, within the framework of the salary and contract review corresponding to 2026. In the same, they argued an accumulated lag compared to the growth of the minimum wage.

Union leader Alejandro Manzanares, who assumed his position last December, announced that the negotiation table will be formally established this Tuesday, marking the beginning of talks with university authorities. He stated that the union is seeking a substantial improvement in the economic conditions of administrative and service workers, given the context of inflationary pressures and budget cuts that have impacted purchasing power in recent years.

In addition to a salary increase, STEUS is proposing increases in benefits such as food vouchers and contributions to the savings fund, points included in the document submitted to the university administration in January. The union has until March 20 to advance negotiations; if no agreement is reached, a date for a strike could be set.

Manzanares Morales explained that if a strike were called, it would have to be filed between March 17 and 18 to comply with legal deadlines. Although the union left open the possibility of a work stoppage, it reiterated that its priority is to avoid the suspension of activities, warning that a strike would impact not only the student body, but also faculty and staff who depend on the university’s regular operations.

“We are the least interested in a strike, but it is the only legal recourse we have to demand what is at least rightfully ours,” the general secretary stated. The meeting between the union and university authorities is scheduled for next week to establish working conditions for the coming year.

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