Teachers union negotiations break down on the third day of widespread school closures in the state
Negotiations broke down on Friday as the National Union of Education Workers Chapter 30 (SNTE, Sección 30) in Tamaulipas called for the resignation of the Secretary of Education, Lucía Aimé Castillo Pastor on the third day of widespread school closures in the state as the result of a teachers’ strike that began on Wednesday.
Teachers and families from various communities took to the streets on Friday in a show of solidarity as members of the state government posted support for Castillo Pastor on social media.
SNTE says many teachers are owed backpay, benefits, or disability payments
“We have problems receiving payments, overdue payments,” said a member of the SNTE Chapter 30 into a microphone at a public rally in Matamoros.
“I know this happens all over Tamaulipas, but enough is enough. We’re tired. We need to be paid. We love our students, we love our profession, and you are not forcing us to be here in the fight. No one is forcing us to be in the fight. But we’re here because it’s necessary. It’s necessary to advance our union. Together, we are stronger.”
Teachers are demanding a 22-point petition be met, including overdue payments for benefits and salary adjustments, which they insist are long overdue.
The SNTE Secretary for Labor and Conflicts says the time lost in school will not be a problem
Jorge Guadalupe Acuña Tovías, Secretary for Labor and Conflicts in Primary Education at SNTE, is charged with monitoring the negotiation process. He’s also authorized to close those negotiations in order to ensure they are carried out in a manner that results in fair benefits for workers.
Acuña Tovías posted a video on SNTE Chapter 30’s Facebook account on Friday in response to concerns over missed class time for children as a result of the teacher strike.
“We already demonstrated during times of COVID that we were able to make up for lost time and used the technological means at our disposal,” said Acuña Tovías in the social media video. “On this occasion, we can do it again. We are not afraid of hard work, and any (teaching) time that might be lost, we can certainly recover it.”
