Leaders of the National Union of Higher Education (Sindicato Nacional de Educación Superior, SNES), which represents Yucatan’s 10 technological universities, have called a strike starting on July 16.
The SNES announced the strike in response to demands for better working conditions. The union’s goal is to compensate for the harm done to workers in this educational sector.
In a press conference held today, Eddie Efraín Baeza Aranda, general secretary of the UTM Yucatan section, said that “today is a historic day for Yucatan’s technological universities.” He was accompanied by Gerardo Bolaños Jiménez, general secretary of the SNES, and Erick Alberto Cupul Burgos, general secretary of the State Committee of Yucatan.
Baeza Aranda highlighted the need to address the damage inflicted on workers in this sector. Bolaños Jiménez added that nearly 100% of workers lack social stability. He also stated that they do not have access to social security or vacation days for retirement.
Furthermore, he emphasized that there is salary discrimination, as they receive between 20% and 40% less than federal employees.
The union leaders warned that if an agreement is not reached with authorities, the strike will escalate in August, which means they will not start work in the next semester (September-December).
If the strike materializes, it will affect around 15,000 students from universities in Mérida, Valladolid, Progreso, Motul, Izamal, Oxkutzcab, Peto, and Tekax.
