Mexico Tactical: Unionized education workers announce 72-hour national strike from March 19-21, associated protest march in Mexico City at 09:00 (local time) on March 19; allot for disruptions

Mar 2025

10:09 UTC

The Coordinadora Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educacion (CNTE), a trade union for education workers, has announced a 72-hour national strike from March 19-21.
Additionally, an associated protest march was announced from the Congreso de la Union to the Palacio Nacional via the Zocalo at 09:00 (local time) in Mexico City on March 19.
The labor and protest action are being organized to demand a reform of the educational system and the Law of the Institute of Security and Social Services for State Workers (ISSSTE). Additionally, it aims to denounce the Administradoras de Fondos para el Retiro (Afores), the pension fund management system, for allegedly mismanaging pension funds, among other issues.

Source: CNTE

The upcoming demonstrations are announced amid stalled negotiations between the government and education workers’ unions regarding the reform of the ISSSTE. The upcoming labor and protest actions follow a similar 48-hour nationwide strike from March 6-7 and associated protest march from the Angel de la Independencia to the Zocalo in Mexico City on March 7. The March 6-7 strike was widely adhered to, and the associated demonstration witnessed a turnout in the low-to-mid thousands.
FORECAST: Given precedent and CNTE’s mobilizational capabilities, the upcoming strike is expected to be widely adhered to, prompting significant disruptions to nationwide education services. Additionally, the upcoming march is likely to draw a turnout in the low-to-mid thousands and transpire peacefully based on previous CNTE protests regarding the same issues. That said, a bolstered security presence can be expected along the march route, especially in the vicinity of the Congreso de la Union and the Palacio Nacional, given they are high-level government establishments to monitor the proceedings and divert traffic. Hence, significant disruptions to vehicular and pedestrian traffic can be anticipated near the Congreso de la Union, the Palacio Nacional, and the Zocalo, in addition the march route from 09:00 onwards.

Those operating or residing in Mexico from March 19-21 are advised to allot for disruptions to public education services nationwide due to the upcoming labor action.
Allot for disruptions to traffic near the Congreso de la Union, the Palacio Nacional, and the Zocalo in Mexico City on March 19 due to the protest during the morning hours.

High

Mexico

Low

Confirmed

The Coordinadora Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educacion (CNTE), a trade union for education workers, has announced a 72-hour national strike from March 19-21.
Additionally, an associated protest march was announced from the Congreso de la Union to the Palacio Nacional via the Zocalo at 09:00 (local time) in Mexico City on March 19.
The labor and protest action are being organized to demand a reform of the educational system and the Law of the Institute of Security and Social Services for State Workers (ISSSTE). Additionally, it aims to denounce the Administradoras de Fondos para el Retiro (Afores), the pension fund management system, for allegedly mismanaging pension funds, among other issues.

Source: CNTE

The upcoming demonstrations are announced amid stalled negotiations between the government and education workers’ unions regarding the reform of the ISSSTE. The upcoming labor and protest actions follow a similar 48-hour nationwide strike from March 6-7 and associated protest march from the Angel de la Independencia to the Zocalo in Mexico City on March 7. The March 6-7 strike was widely adhered to, and the associated demonstration witnessed a turnout in the low-to-mid thousands.
FORECAST: Given precedent and CNTE’s mobilizational capabilities, the upcoming strike is expected to be widely adhered to, prompting significant disruptions to nationwide education services. Additionally, the upcoming march is likely to draw a turnout in the low-to-mid thousands and transpire peacefully based on previous CNTE protests regarding the same issues. That said, a bolstered security presence can be expected along the march route, especially in the vicinity of the Congreso de la Union and the Palacio Nacional, given they are high-level government establishments to monitor the proceedings and divert traffic. Hence, significant disruptions to vehicular and pedestrian traffic can be anticipated near the Congreso de la Union, the Palacio Nacional, and the Zocalo, in addition the march route from 09:00 onwards.

Those operating or residing in Mexico from March 19-21 are advised to allot for disruptions to public education services nationwide due to the upcoming labor action.
Allot for disruptions to traffic near the Congreso de la Union, the Palacio Nacional, and the Zocalo in Mexico City on March 19 due to the protest during the morning hours.

High

Mexico

Low

Confirmed

Labor Action