In their National Representative Assembly (ANR), the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE) announced that they will continue their strike into the 2016-2017 academic year. This means that classes will not commence nationally on Aug. 22 as originally scheduled.
On Monday, Aug. 22 they will commence state marches in demand of the reinitiation of negotiations with clear and precise responses. They announced that to return to class on Monday would be to accept the government’s unwillingness to give clear responses to their demands.
In fear that the teachers of CNTE would not be returning to class on Aug.22, the Private Initiative demanded that all schools in the country open their doors on Monday to demonstrate that the right to education should be prioritized over the CNTE’s demands. The Business Coordination Council (CCE) announced their trust in local authorities to make this happen and made a call to all families to accompany their children to school that day to start the year together.
The National Chamber of the Manufacturing Industry (Canacintra) also announced that the CNTE’s efforts have obstructed the normal operations of 14,500 businesses in Chiapas, Guerrero, Michoacán and Oaxaca. Canacintra’s president, Enrique Guillén explained that the majority of these businesses are micro-businesses whose inability to work on schedule will inevitably raise the price of the products they help manufacture.
On Aug. 20 the CNTE will reconvene to ratify their plan of action.
JESÚS VELÁZQUEZ
ROSALBA AMEZCUA
VIANEY PICHARDO