Following a pivotal meeting with the Interior Ministry in Mexico City, Yucatán’s educators have agreed to resume classes this Wednesday. In solidarity with the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE), Yucatán teachers had engaged in a “work-to-rule” strike—present but not working—after representatives attended negotiation talks in the capital with the Secretary of the Interior. They agreed to a follow-up meeting with the Secretary of Education (SEP) representative on June 20 to address the teaching profession’s demands, announced spokesperson Víctor Enríquez Cabrera.
By the afternoon, Yucatán’s teachers reported that, after the meeting in the nation’s capital, they would conclude their wage-related protests. Consequently, classes across all basic education institutions will resume this Wednesday.
Enríquez Cabrera disclosed that yesterday, 70 percent of the schools in the state participated in the “work-to-rule” action, predominantly in the eastern regions.
For now, various educational institutions in Mérida and other state municipalities joined the labor stoppage in support of their united struggle; classrooms remained empty while teaching staff engaged in alternative activities not involving classroom instruction.
Teachers assured that during these days of strike and peaceful demonstrations, they have received support from parents, both in positive comments and in keeping their children out of school, awaiting further notices from the educators.
Representatives Víctor Enríquez Cabrera of the Yucatán Workers Coalition (COTREY), María Eugenia Aranda of the Support and Assistance Personnel for Education (PAAE), Limbergh Santoyo Arzápalo, and Melchor Ortega from MAPAUNID participated in the negotiation table with the Interior Ministry in Mexico City. They agreed that the dialogue would continue in Mérida on June 20.
Enríquez Cabrera stated that during the upcoming visit, demands including 90 days of end-of-year bonus, nine economic days without deductions for strike days, and the regularization of over 4,000 employees with low wages not corresponding to their work, among other points, will be addressed. He also called for unity and trust among educators regarding the ongoing negotiations.
He assured that an upcoming meeting with the incoming state government would soon be announced to discuss and analyze the union’s petition points and garner support for the same.
