Background on the Coordinadora Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación (CNTE)
The Coordinadora Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación (CNTE) is a prominent Mexican teachers’ union representing educators from various states. They have been known for their protests and strikes to advocate for educational reforms and better working conditions.
CNTE’s Recent Demands
Recently, certain CNTE leaders have demanded that the pension funds (Afores) of all workers be used to repeal the 2007 ISSSTE law under Felipe Calderón’s administration. This move aims to address their unresolved grievances.
Government Response
In response to these demands, government authorities have repeatedly explained that repealing the 2007 law is not feasible, as it would negatively impact workers by leaving them without retirement resources. These funds belong to the workers, having been saved throughout their careers.
Retirement Benefits and Salaries
Government officials have highlighted that teacher salaries have significantly improved under the current administration, with primary and secondary school teachers earning over 18,965 pesos—a substantial increase compared to previous sexenios. Furthermore, the minimum retirement for basic-level teachers is now above 16,000 pesos, up from the neoliberal era’s 4,000 pesos.
Legislative Progress
The government has also pointed out that the punitive 2013 educational reform, which could lead to teachers’ dismissal based on exam results without considering seniority, has been repealed. In its place, a consensus-based reform is being pursued to “acknowledge and strengthen the vital role of the national teaching corps,” as stated by government officials.
CNTE’s Lack of Proposal
For seven months, the government has urged CNTE to draft an alternative to the Usicamm. However, no proposal has been presented by the union, contradicting their claims of being overlooked.
Minimum Retirement Age
Regarding the CNTE’s request to lower the retirement age to 28 for women and 30 for men, both the Secretary of Public Education (SEP) head and the President have explained that the 2007 ISSSTE reform set the minimum retirement age at 65 and transitioned to individual accounts. Consequently, the current administration has proposed freezing the gradual increase of the minimum retirement age at 58, favoring educational sector workers due to its legal viability.
Community Support
Meanwhile, business owners in Mexico City and parents from Zacatecas, Chiapas, and Oaxaca have publicly requested the termination of strikes so students can return to classes.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the CNTE demanding? The CNTE is asking for the repeal of the 2007 ISSSTE law and using workers’ pension funds (Afores) to address their unresolved grievances.
- Why can’t the 2007 law be repealed? Repealing it would negatively impact workers by leaving them without retirement resources, as those funds belong to them and have been saved throughout their careers.
- How have teacher salaries and retirement benefits improved? Under the current administration, primary and secondary school teachers now earn over 18,965 pesos, a substantial increase from previous sexenios. The minimum retirement for basic-level teachers is now above 16,000 pesos, up from the neoliberal era’s 4,000 pesos.
- What happened to the 2013 educational reform? The punitive 2013 educational reform, which could lead to teachers’ dismissal based on exam results without considering seniority, has been repealed. A consensus-based reform is being pursued to strengthen the role of the national teaching corps.
- Why hasn’t CNTE presented a proposal? Despite seven months of urging, the CNTE has not submitted an alternative to the Usicamm.
- What is the proposed minimum retirement age? The current administration has proposed freezing the gradual increase of the minimum retirement age at 58 for educational sector workers, considering it a legally viable option.
- What is the community’s stance on strikes? Business owners in Mexico City and parents from Zacatecas, Chiapas, and Oaxaca have publicly requested the termination of strikes so students can return to classes.
