On June 5, 2025, educators affiliated with the Coordinadora Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación (CNTE) and local teacher unions carried out a protest in Mérida, Yucatán, blocking International Avenue (Avenida Internacional) en route to Manuel Crescencio Rejón International Airport. Approximately 150 teachers formed a human barricade around 1:59 PM, chanting slogans demanding wage increases, immediate contract regularization for hourly workers, and fulfillment of promised educational reforms.
According to protest organizers, the blockade hindered traffic flow for nearly two hours, prompting airport authorities to reroute passengers via secondary access roads. The demonstrators displayed banners reading “Education, Not Exclusion” and “Teachers Deserve Dignity,” calling for a national dialogue on teacher welfare. A spokesperson for the CNTE Yucatán chapter stated that unresolved grievances—such as delays in contract renewals and lack of teaching materials—had reached a breaking point.
Local public safety officials maintained a perimeter around the blockade but allowed the protest to proceed peacefully, citing the right to free expression. By 3:00 PM, municipal police and federal gendarmes negotiated a partial clearing of the main thoroughfare, permitting essential traffic to resume while allowing a smaller contingent of teachers to continue their demonstration at a nearby plaza. The airport issued an advisory to travelers, apologizing for delays and urging them to check flight status updates.
Union leaders announced plans for a second demonstration on June 8 in front of the state government building, indicating that if their demands remain unmet, they may escalate to a statewide strike. Education department officials have expressed willingness to engage in dialogue, scheduling preliminary talks on June 7 to address salary adjustments and contract disputes. Meanwhile, Merida residents were advised to use alternative routes—such as Calle 60 and Calle 59—to avoid congestion.
