Teachers End Mexico City Strike, But Walkout Continues in Two States

Teachers End Mexico City Strike as Education Crisis Deepens in Two States

The CNTE's Section 22 withdrew its 19-day occupation of Mexico City's Zócalo on June 19, 2026, according to El Financiero. The walkout ended with the teachers' demands still unresolved, while the broader strike continues in Chiapas and Zacatecas.

The decision came during a State Assembly on Friday. Yenny Araceli Pérez Martínez, general secretary of Section 22, stated, "We are going to return and reorganize in our state" before presenting the resolution to the CNTE's National Representative Assembly (ANR). The teachers' core demands remain on the table: repeal of the 2007 ISSSTE law and pension system reforms.

Schools Empty, Families Scramble for Solutions

The strike's impact on students is staggering. Milenio reported on June 20 that approximately 1.5 million elementary students in Chiapas and 255,000 in Zacatecas lack classroom instruction. The Mexico City withdrawal does nothing to reverse this damage, particularly for cross-border families relying on the public system.

Families in strike-affected states are turning to private alternatives out of desperation. In Chiapas, some parents pay 150 pesos per student weekly for catch-up courses, with 90-minute daily sessions, according to Milenio's reporting. The core concern is accumulated learning loss, with weeks of missed classes and the school year rapidly approaching its close.

Sebastián Méndez, a CNTE representative in Chiapas, confirmed the union's stance: "For now, no colleague will return to school activities." The burden of private tutoring falls hardest on low-income families who depend entirely on public education.

Negotiations Continue at National Level

The CNTE's National Representative Assembly must still evaluate dialogue terms with the federal government over pension and ISSSTE demands. Meanwhile, families in affected states race to keep their children academically afloat before the school year ends.

Frequently Asked Questions

**How many students are out of school due to the CNTE strike?**

Approximately 1.5 million elementary students in Chiapas and 255,000 in Zacatecas remain without instruction during the June 2026 CNTE strike, according to Milenio.

**What does private tutoring cost during the strike?**

In Chiapas, families pay 150 pesos per student weekly for private catch-up courses with 90-minute daily sessions, as documented by Milenio on June 20, 2026.

**Why did Section 22 end the Mexico City occupation?**

Section 22 lifted its Zócalo encampment on June 19, 2026, after 19 days. Though the strike continues elsewhere, the group determined it was time to reorganize in their home state while keeping pressure on federal negotiations.