Photo from Mexico Solidarity Media, March 20, 2026.
Agence France-Presse reports: “Teachers from one of Mexico’s largest unions began three days of protests on Wednesday, March 18, to demand labor improvements, and warned that, if they are not heeded, they will demonstrate during the 2026 North American World Cup, which begins in June in the Mexican capital.”
“Thousands of workers from the National Coordination of Education Workers (CNTE) mobilized in the center of the capital to demand the repeal of laws on pensions, salary modifications and changes in education policy.”
That article adds: “The organizers reported that this Wednesday the teachers will also march to the embassies of the United States and Israel, in rejection of the conflict in Iran and the threats against Cuba, and to the embassy of Panama, in solidarity with teachers from that country.”
The Jacobin has previously explained: “The Mexican Teachers Union (SNTE) has 1.4 million members, with two hundred thousand or more active in the dissident National Coordinating Committee (CNTE).”
It adds: “Today’s dissident teacher movement began in the mid-1960s among mostly women, indigenous teachers in the state of Chiapas.”
It also highlights: “When on September 26, 2014 police and gang members in Iguala, Guerrero killed six people, wounded twenty-five, and kidnapped forty-three students from the Ayotzinapa Rural Normal School, the CNTE joined with their protests, which became national in scope.”
CNTE activists murdered, leaders arrested
The Jacobin article then concludes: “All of this makes the CNTE’s struggle even more remarkable. Despite the murder of several of its activists, the arrest of some of its leaders, and the violent attacks by the police on its demonstrations, the struggle continues.”
Overall situation in Mexico
The 2025 ITUC GLOBAL RIGHTS INDEX THE WORLD’S WORST COUNTRIES FOR WORKERS (May 2025) gives Mexico a Rating of 3 noting “regular violations of rights”.
NEXT: Upcoming webinar prior to Mexico-Canada Dialogue
Look for a webinar this spring where we will continue to amplify this message in advance of the Mexico-Canada Dialogue on Human Rights and Multilateral Issues that will take place in Ottawa in the second half of May 2026.
Peace Brigades International-Canada recognizes trade union activists as human rights defenders and seeks increased protection for them.
This includes strengthening protections such as the Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists in Mexico, as well as the Rapid Response Mechanism within the Canada-U.S. Mexico Agreement.
Additional reading
– CNTE Teachers Will Protest at Privatized Pension Companies (Mexico Solidarity Media, March 20, 2026)
– Mexican Farmers Strike Starts March 23rd: “We will do everything in our power to prevent the World Cup from taking place” (Mexico Solidarity Media, March 20, 2026).
