Mexican Teachers End Protest After Reaching 800 Million Peso Deal

Mexican Teachers End Mexico City Protest After Reaching 800 Million Peso Agreement Mexico City – After fifteen days of protests, teachers from Section 22 of the CNTE union in Oaxaca, Mexico, have agreed to end their demonstration in Mexico City. The decision, while still needing final approval from the National Representative Assembly (ARN), was heavily influenced by a vote within Section 22, which holds a majority of the votes. The agreement includes a significant financial commitment of 800 million pesos from the federal government for the upcoming school year. This funding is intended to address critical needs, including teacher hiring, recategorization, promotions, and salary adjustments. "The Secretary of Education acknowledges the estimated needs of teaching and administrative personnel," states a document released by the CNTE, outlining the agreement. "The Ministry of Finance and Public Credit will authorize an amount of up to 800 million pesos for the next school year to address these needs." The document is signed by key government officials, including the Secretary of Gobernación, Rosa Icela Rodríguez; the Secretary of Education, Mario Delgado; the Governor of Oaxaca, Salomón Jara; and the director of the Oaxaca State Institute of Public Education, Emilio Montero. While the Oaxaca section's decision to end the protest was based on a close vote (5,555 to 5,298), the outcome has already influenced other teacher sections. Despite lingering concerns about the vote count and the lack of progress on other demands, the agreement signals a potential turning point in the ongoing labor dispute. The teachers’ willingness to accept the government’s offer demonstrates a desire to find a resolution and highlights the significance of the financial commitment to education in Oaxaca.