CNTE Teachers End Zócalo Protest Camp After 19 Days

Teachers Begin Clearing the Zócalo Encampment

After 19 days of occupying space near Mexico City's Zócalo, members of the CNTE's Oaxaca-based Section 22 started dismantling their protest camp on Friday night. The decision came after a vote last Thursday to end the action, even as the historic plaza now hosts FIFA's official World Cup Fan Festival. Families who pass through the area daily watched crews remove tarps and signs, restoring open space for vendors and visitors once again.

Core Demands That Brought Teachers to the Capital

Section 22 arrived with two main requests: a full 100 percent salary increase and the complete revocation of the 2007 ISSSTE Law that altered the pension system. Teachers argue the law leaves many with smaller retirement payments than before. The group also criticized the administrators of retirement funds, known as AFORES, for how they handle contributions from educators across the country.

These issues touch the lives of thousands of families in Oaxaca's rural communities and small towns, where a teacher's paycheck often supports extended households and local tianguis economies.

Government Clarifies the 800 Million Pesos for Oaxaca Schools

President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the matter directly during Monday's mañanera at Palacio Nacional. She stated that the 800 million pesos have nothing to do with the CNTE and are instead allocated for education improvements in Oaxaca. Education Minister Mario Delgado explained the funds will create new teaching positions and supply schools with computers and printers.

Section 22 leader Yenny Aracely Pérez Martínez noted that any economic offer discussed would not reach her section. She emphasized that the group came to demand decent retirement conditions and that the federal government's stance had been made clear through the talks held with the Education Ministry and SEGOB.

Everyday Effects on Students, Families, and Local Businesses

More than 1.4 million students in Oaxaca and neighboring states experienced disruptions to their classes during the protest period. Parents in indigenous communities and ejidos had to rearrange work schedules or rely on relatives to watch children when schools closed. In the capital's historic center, small business owners near the Zócalo reported heavy losses as foot traffic dropped and regular customers stayed away.

These effects ripple through colonias and pueblos where education remains a pathway out of poverty for many young people. The temporary closure of classroom doors hits hardest in places already facing limited resources.

Leaders Speak on the Vote and Next Steps

CNTE leader Pedro Hernández Morales, present in Mexico City, described the decision to leave as no defeat. Pérez Martínez added that teachers are reorganizing and will return with greater strength. She highlighted the visibility the protest gave to their pension concerns and the need for better retirement security.

President Sheinbaum has recognized that teachers hold legitimate demands while noting budget limits prevent meeting every request at once. Dialogue between the union and federal authorities continues through established channels.

Looking Forward for Oaxaca's Education Communities

With the camp cleared, attention now turns to how the promised school improvements in Oaxaca will reach classrooms. The funds directed toward new positions and equipment could ease some pressures on teachers and students alike. Yet many in Section 22 continue to watch how the 2007 ISSSTE Law changes play out in daily retirement planning for aging educators.

Communities across the state remain connected through the shared experience of the protest, drawing on traditions of collective action that have long shaped Mexican teacher movements. As the Fan Festival continues at the Zócalo, life in surrounding neighborhoods slowly returns to its usual rhythm of markets, schools, and family gatherings.

Tags: CNTE Section 22, Zócalo, Claudia Sheinbaum, ISSSTE pension, Oaxaca education, Mario Delgado, student impact, historic center businesses

By Rosa Martinez, Staff Writer