Teachers throughout Mexico are vocalizing their discontent with proposed changes to the ISSSTE Law, which they believe will negatively impact their livelihoods and benefits. Recently, approximately 500 educators gathered in Parral to voice their opposition, carrying banners and extending their work stoppage to demonstrate the seriousness of their concerns.
The National Union of Education Workers (SNTE), particularly its Section 22, has announced plans for significant protests, including work stoppages and blockades across Mexico City and Oaxaca as part of their demonstration against the ISSSTE Law reform set for 2025. The union's leadership expresses its intention to occupy various strategic locations to make their demands known.
Among the key requests from protest leaders are calls to halt the approval of the ISSSTE legislation, eliminate the 2007 version of the law, and withdraw educational reforms proposed under previous administrations. They argue these reforms, which increase the contribution rates for public workers—including teachers—are unjust. According to the SNTE, the proposed adjustments could triple contributions for those earning above 10 Units of Measure and Update (UMA). Currently, this translates to salaries exceeding approximately $34,394.
Officials state the intended purpose of these changes is to bolster funding for the services provided by ISSSTE and improve care for affiliates. Nonetheless, teachers are apprehensive about the impact on their personal finances and retirement savings encapsulated within their Afores.
Given their grievances, teachers are planning coordinated protests on February 27 and 28, 2025. Specific sites include major toll booths and federal government offices, with aims to disrupt traffic and catch the attention of legislators, signaling how seriously they regard these issues.
On the governmental side, discussions around the concerns stemming from the ISSSTE Law reform are taking place. Recent meetings led by Paloma Barragán, a representative from Sonora's federal schools, highlight some positive engagements between educators and government officials. Barragán noted, “It was a dialogue with assertive communication... very successful,” referring to productive conversations with Sonora’s Governor Alfonso Durazo and Secretary of Education Froylán Gámez Gamboa.
During these discussions, teachers were able to relay their fears directly to the state leadership, discussing how these changes could sway their financial futures and affect their families. These leaders have committed to serving as conduits for the teachers’ concerns to reach federal authorities as more meetings are scheduled.
Despite the productive dialogue, teachers remain resolute. A planned march on February 28, coinciding with scheduled technical council meetings, is expected to demonstrate their commitment to reversing the ISSSTE Law reform. Participants plan to gather at Plaza Emiliana de Zubeldía, emphasizing their desire for change on behalf of their students and the educational system.
The current upheaval highlights the broader discontent among educators across the nation. The response to the ISSSTE reforms reflects not only concerns about immediate financial impacts but also broader anxieties about governmental priorities and how they affect the teaching profession.
With tensions high and the dialogue continuing, teachers are preparing for their actions, underscoring the significant role these demonstrations play not only for their future but for educational standards across Mexico. The stakes are high, as the outcomes of these negotiations will likely shape the teaching profession's future for years to come.