Cancún teachers join nationwide strike starting May 21

Cancún, Quintana Roo — More than 500 teachers marched through Cancún on May 15 to commemorate Teachers' Day, flooding the city center after leading a small ceremony at the Monument to History on Chichen Itza Avenue. Dressed in red and black as a sign of protest, the demonstrators voiced their demands amid growing labor tensions.

Leticia Cahuich Can, spokesperson for the Benito Juárez Struggle Committee, announced that approximately 7,000 teachers in the municipality will join a nationwide teachers' strike starting May 21. So far, 50% of these educators have confirmed their participation, with the remainder expected to join gradually.

Strike Delayed to Minimize Disruptions

"A national strike was called, but considering the conditions and characteristics of our municipalities, we reached a consensus with our base. They decided we needed a few more days to prepare materials that will ensure continuity in education or minimize the impact on students' learning. Therefore, the base has decided to begin the strike on Wednesday, May 21," Cahuich Can stated.

The march proceeded along Tulum Avenue toward City Hall, where members of the Benito Juárez Struggle Committee chanted slogans and displayed banners demanding the repeal of the ISSSTE Law 2027 and the 2013 Education Reform. Protesters argue these measures severely undermine their labor rights.

Security Measures in Place

Local transit authorities deployed a significant security presence to accompany the teachers and ensure the demonstration remained peaceful.

Cahuich Can added that classes would continue in all basic education schools until May 21, allowing teachers time to coordinate strategies with parents to reduce disruptions for students. She also noted that the central struggle committee would announce how other municipalities would join the national strike. Additionally, the committee resolved to support a protest encampment in Felipe Carrillo Puerto starting May 16.