Mexico teachers' CNTE strike costs $586 million and sparks internal split

After more than ten days of nationwide protests, the Coordinadora Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación (CNTE) has halted classes for roughly 88,000 teachers, representing an estimated loss of 586 million pesos in payroll that the federal Secretariat of Public Education (SEP) deems wasted.

The strike centres on the demand to repeal the 2007 ISSSTE pension law, which the teachers say forces them into individual retirement accounts and threatens future pension security. While some states, such as Oaxaca, Chiapas and Zacatecas, have refused to impose salary deductions on striking educators, the federal government continues negotiations, with SEP Secretary Mario Delgado refusing to guarantee protection from administrative reprisals.

Within the movement, a growing divide has emerged: some members argue for continued pressure in Mexico City’s Zócalo, while others advocate pulling back after nearly two weeks of dead‑locked talks. The internal debate reflects broader concerns about political influence from the ruling Morena party and the sustainability of the protest.

The strike has drawn attention to broader education financing, with the 2026 federal budget allocating 284 million pesos for teacher training now dwarfed by the payroll shortfall caused by the walkout.