Mexico's Sheinbaum launches direct school‑by‑school talks with teachers amid CNTE protests

President Claudia Sheinbaum resumed dialogue with the Coordinadora Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación (CNTE) as the teachers’ union continued a protest in Mexico City’s historic centre. She announced that from August the federal government will hold direct consultations school by school with more than a million teachers, bypassing union leadership, to gather opinions on education reforms, including the replacement of the USICAMM body that regulates teacher recruitment and promotion. Sheinbaum said the new approach aims to avoid the “corruption, favoritism and discretion” she attributes to the previous union‑state arrangements.

The president also pledged that the administration will not use force to clear the CNTE occupiers, stating “no habrá represión.” She acknowledged the economic impact on local merchants and affirmed that negotiations with the CNTE will remain open while the direct consultations proceed. CNTE representatives reiterated demands such as the abrogation of the 2007 ISSSTE law, dignified retirement and better salaries, awaiting concrete government proposals.