Mexico's CNTE pauses strike as talks with federal government stall

The federal government is monitoring the winding down of the nationwide protests led by the Coordinadora Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación (CNTE). After weeks of mobilisations that disrupted traffic and affected local economies, authorities opened dialogue tables aiming to de‑escalate tensions and restore normalcy.

The CNTE announced the end of its 19‑day national strike, lifting the encampment in Mexico City’s historic centre. However, the union said no substantive agreement was reached. Government officials rejected the creation of a work table to repeal the 2007 ISSSTE law – a core demand – and offered instead proposals on pension reforms, a public insurer and a new institutional relationship with the education ministry.

Despite the pause, CNTE leaders reiterated their broader demands, including the abolition of the ISSSTE law and the Service Professional Teacher law, higher bonuses, salary adjustments and reinstatement of displaced staff. They framed the cessation as a strategic regrouping, warning that the movement will resume with greater strength after internal reorganisation.