Yucatán School Year at Risk Over Labor Dispute

Mérida, Yucatán — The upcoming school year in Yucatán is in jeopardy due to an escalating labor conflict. The State Secretariat of Education of the Government of Yucatán (SEGEY) has again failed to comply with agreements made with the Sindicato Nacional de Educación Superior (SNES) and the Coordinadora Estatal de Trabajadores de la Educación de Yucatán (CETEY), sparking outrage among teachers and casting doubt on the scheduled start of classes.

A follow-up meeting regarding the collective contract and other labor demands was scheduled for this Wednesday. Union representatives attended, led by the national secretary of the SNES, Professor Gerardo Bolaños, along with leaders of the CETEY. However, upon arriving at the SEGEY facilities, they were met with the surprise that no authorities were present to receive them.

The absence of officials was interpreted as an act of disdain and an affront to the teaching community of Yucatán. According to the teachers, this failure to comply generates a climate of tension and anger among education workers across the state, who have been waiting for a serious response to their petitions.

The CETEY announced that its state committee would convene this same Wednesday to determine the next course of action. However, they forewarned that if the SEGEY continues to provide no solution by next week, they will take more forceful measures that could directly impact the start of the school year.

Among the options being considered are the suspension of activities, public protests, and mobilizations across the state. "We are not seeking to affect students or parents, but the lack of good faith from the authorities forces us to raise our voices," they emphasized.

The union is demanding compliance with agreements on working conditions, improvements to the collective contract, and respect for acquired rights. They state that the lack of willingness from SEGEY only worsens the discontent and undermines the teaching staff's trust in the educational authority.

As of the close of this report, the Secretariat of Education had not issued an official position regarding the breach of agreement nor the potential risk of the return to classes being interrupted by a labor conflict.