Union calls for one-day strike

The leader of the Local 37 of the National Education Workers’ Union called on teachers to participate in a one-day strike Wednesday after the state was unable to pay the monthly retirement benefits of those who had achieved 30 years or more in service.

Secretary General María Luisa Gutiérrez said the state has not fulfilled its commitment to make the payment and remained silent to the union’s petition.

The union’s leader called to suspend activities Wednesday in all schools statewide.

She also asked members to meet at 8 a.m. at the state buildings in order to demand the payment.

“To our students and parents, we thank you upfront for your support and empathy that had always showed during our legitimate fight to demand our labor rights,” she wrote.

On Monday, union representatives met with officials of the healthcare and retirement agency called Issstecali, which said the state has no funds to make the payments.

Last week, the union told its retired members payments were going to be made Tuesday retroactively to February.

Secretary of Planning and Finances Bladimiro Hernández said the federal government is in charge of disbursing extraordinary funds for education in order to make retirement payments.

According to the official, the Mexican government has made no payments so far in 2018, so the agency has decided to keep payments to a minimum.

Other accounts for financial support and health services have had similar issues, he said.

Last year, the Mexican government made severe cuts to those funds, according to the secretary.