On May 22, CNTE teachers blocked major arteries in Mexico City demanding repeal of the 2007 ISSSTE pension law and 2019 education reform, snarling traffic and pushing President Sheinbaum’s morning briefing online.
Dissident teachers from the Coordinadora Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación (CNTE) sustained a nationwide strike on May 22, erecting roadblocks at Calzada de La Viga, Calzada de Tlalpan and Paseo de la Reforma that brought rush-hour traffic to a standstill and forced authorities to shift President Claudia Sheinbaum’s daily morning briefing—known as the mañanera—to a virtual format.
By mid-morning, more than 5,000 CNTE members, primarily from Chiapas, Oaxaca, Guerrero and Mexico City, had converged on the Angel of Independence monument before marching along Reforma to the Zócalo. There they pitched tents in Plaza de la Constitución and adjacent streets, turning the historic square into a makeshift encampment that echoes the union’s tactics from its 2013 protests.
The CNTE’s core demands center on repealing the 2007 ISSSTE pension law—which replaced solidarity pensions with individual Afore-managed accounts—and rolling back the 2019 education reform that introduced mandatory evaluations and led to the dismissal of hundreds of teachers. Union leaders are also seeking a 100% salary hike, a budget boost for rural schools and the reinstatement of educators fired under the 2013 measures.
Despite government offers of a 9% pay increase, an extra week of vacation and a freeze on the retirement age of 56 for women and 58 for men, teachers insist these concessions fail to address the structural pension changes. “We’ve negotiated for seven years without meaningful results,” said Yenny Pérez, CNTE leader in Oaxaca. “Only a full repeal of ISSSTE and the 2019 reform will restore justice to our profession”.
The demonstrators’ blockade of Calzada de La Viga and Calzada de Tlalpan created gridlock for over two hours, with Metrobus routes diverted and private vehicles enduring delays of up to 75 minutes. Commuters reported packed streets and stalled buses as police struggled to maintain alternate routes amid growing crowds.
When teachers prevented access to the National Palace, Sheinbaum delivered her mañanera via videoconference from an adjacent government building. Reporters connected by Zoom observed an empty press hall, underscoring the protest’s direct hit on the presidency’s flagship public forum.
Interior Secretary Rosa Icela Rodríguez denounced the roadblocks as “unacceptable disruptions” that risked undermining negotiations. She reaffirmed the government’s openness to dialogue but warned, “We cannot allow actions that paralyze the capital and hurt ordinary citizens”.
China’s tourist operators, retailers along Reforma and delivery services reported revenue losses as the protest wore on. Some small businesses near the Zócalo closed early to avoid confrontation, while hotels in the Historic Center offered transfer services to bypass affected streets.
The CNTE faction, formed in 1979 as a breakaway from the larger SNTE union, has built its reputation on high-impact demonstrations. Its members have repeatedly blocked federal highways and public squares to press for labor and education demands, often bringing negotiations to a standstill.
Union leaders warned they may extend blockades to the Mexico City airport and key ministry offices if talks falter. A high-level meeting has been scheduled for May 25, but with both sides holding firm, the path to a resolution remains unclear—and the capital’s traffic turmoil may be only the opening salvo.
