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Rabat – Teachers in Mexico are preparing for a national strike during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, warning that they will take action if their demands for wage and pension reforms are not met.
The National Coordinating Committee of Education Workers (CNTE) said in a statement that its demands are “non‑negotiable.”
The union is calling for fair wages, secure jobs, and pensions that guarantee dignity in retirement.
It also criticized the 2007 ISSSTE law, which restructured state worker pensions and remains a central point of dispute.
The strike threat comes as Mexico prepares to co‑host the World Cup with the United States and Canada.
The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, overlapping with the Mexican school calendar. The opening match between Mexico and South Africa will be staged at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
On Teacher’s Day, thousands of educators marched through the capital carrying banners and placards. “The fight isn’t just for teachers; it’s for all workers whose right to a dignified retirement is threatened today,” the CNTE said.
“There’s nothing to celebrate when millions of workers face meagre pensions.”
Earlier this month, the Ministry of Public Education (SEP) announced that the school year would end early, moving the final day from July 15 to June 5.
Officials cited an extraordinary heat wave and the overlap with the World Cup. However, the plan faced criticism from teachers’ unions and parents’ associations, leading the government to cancel the change.
Teacher protests are not new in Mexico. In May last year, demonstrations over wages briefly disrupted flights at Benito Juarez International Airport.
Last year, the government also promised a 10% salary increase and an extra week of vacation, but unions say deeper reforms are needed.
The CNTE insists that the strike threat is part of a broader struggle for workers’ rights. With the World Cup drawing global attention, the union hopes its message will resonate beyond classrooms and highlight long‑standing issues in Mexico’s education system.
