Mexican Teachers Union to Block U.S.-Mexico Border Friday Morning

SNTE Protest in June 2007

The same Mexican teachers union that blocked the US-Mexico Border in June is set to protest at the border once again on Friday, August 31, at 9AM. The California Highway Patrol confirmed that beginning at 8:30AM Friday the CHP will close off lanes on the Interstate 5 and 805 south of the state route 905 for southbound traffic.

The teachers union, Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación (SNTE), will protest a new law by the Mexican national social security department, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado (ISSSTE), that raises the retirement age from 50 years to 60 years of age for men and 58 years of age for women. The new law, which takes effect in 2010, introduces retirement savings account for government workers. Currently, teachers receive a pension after 30 years of service for men, and 28 years of service for women. Retired and pensioned teachers will be grandfathered into the old system.