Teachers from Section 22 of the National Union of Education Workers (SNTE) in Oaxaca have ended their protest camp in Mexico City's Historic Center.
The movement represents one of Mexico's most influential labor blocs. Their decision to relocate follows a period of escalating tension between the union and the federal government over labor rights and autonomy.
Led by teacher Aleida Salgado, the group deactivated the site in late May 2024 after intense rains occurred on May 28 and 29 [1]. Despite the departure from the capital, the union maintains that its core demands regarding salary improvements, working conditions, and professional autonomy have not been addressed by the government [1, 2].
Salgado said, "The retreat is reorganization, not defeat."
The movement has recently shifted its focus toward more disruptive tactics in other regions. On May 28, 2024, the group organized road blocks [3]. This was followed by the seizure of the Oaxaca airport on May 29, 2024 [4].
These actions intensified during early June 2024, roughly 14 days before the start of the World Cup [3]. Protesters used the global sporting event as leverage to draw attention to their cause. During these demonstrations, protesters said, "If there is no solution, their ball does not roll. Government, damned, to repress is a crime" [2].
While the physical presence in the Historic Center has vanished, the union continues to organize marches, and blockades in Oaxaca and other cities to pressure the administration into a resolution [1, 2].
“"The retreat is reorganization, not defeat."”
The transition from a stationary protest in the capital to mobile disruptions like airport seizures indicates a strategic shift by Section 22. By targeting infrastructure and coinciding their actions with international events like the World Cup, the union is attempting to increase the political cost of government inaction despite the lack of a permanent camp in Mexico City.
