### Unplanned Salary Increases for Baja California Teachers: SE
The Baja California government is currently awaiting an extraordinary federal fund to cover an unexpected 11% salary increase for the state’s 18,600 teachers. This increase, which includes retroactive pay, was announced by the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, on May 15. However, the state’s budget initially accounted for only a 5% increase.
Luis Gilberto Gallego Cortez, the head of the State Secretariat of Education, revealed that the unplanned salary hike would amount to an annual expenditure of 1.6 billion pesos, a figure that was not previously anticipated in the state budget. The teachers’ union has warned that failure to reflect the salary increase, retroactive pay, and arrears owed to substitute teachers will result in the postponement of the 2024-2025 academic year.
During a weekly conference held by Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda, Gallego Cortez stated, “We will pay, but we don’t yet have a specific date because the federal government hasn’t confirmed the release of the 1.6 billion pesos.”
Gallego Cortez is hopeful that the needed funds will arrive around August 26, aligning with the start of the new school year. Once received, the funds will be automatically integrated into the budget, notifications will be sent to Congress, and the compensation will start being disbursed.
Additionally, on August 15, the state government is set to pay outstanding bonuses and vacation benefits previously agreed upon with teachers’ unions. The authorities also plan to address monthly back payments owed to teachers until the cumulative debt is cleared.
Furthermore, Gallego Cortez acknowledged the invaluable contributions of teachers and confirmed that arrears from 2022-2023, amounting to approximately 36 million pesos for interim teacher payments, are yet to be settled by the Educational Payroll Contributions Fund (FONE). To address part of this debt, 20 million pesos will be paid this Thursday, with subsequent partial payments in the coming months.
### Additional Education News in Baja California
– **Cecytes Teachers Still on Strike:** Teachers from Colegio de Estudios Científicos y Tecnológicos (Cecytes) continue their strike, seeking an agreement before the start of classes.
– **No School Start Without Salary Increase:** The State Secretariat of Education of Baja California (SETEBC) has stated that there will be no commencement of classes if teachers do not receive their promised salary increase.
– **198 Million Peso Debt to Teachers:** On August 15, the state government will pay 198 million pesos in back payments to educators, as part of the resolution of outstanding debts.
– **High Utility Bills Remain a Concern:** Elevated utility bills remain one of the primary complaints lodged against CESPT (State Commission of Public Services of Tijuana).
– **Road Repairs Lag Behind:** Due to CESPT’s ongoing projects, there is a significant backlog in road repairs in various parts of Tijuana.
– **Water Supply Issues in High Areas of Tijuana:** CESPT has issued recommendations to ensure continuous water supply as higher areas of Tijuana might face shortages.
– **University of Tijuana Celebrates 26th Anniversary:** The Universidad Tecnológica de Tijuana celebrates its 26th anniversary, projecting an intake of 1,800 students for the upcoming academic year.
– **Threats Against Tijuana’s Government Secretary:** A vehicle containing threats was discovered, which had been reported stolen in the U.S., aimed at the Secretary of Government of Tijuana.
– **Embargo on Aerospace Company ICON in Tijuana:** The company faces an “embargo status” due to unpaid employee wages, leaving approximately 207 workers without salaries for over a month.
– **Queues for Social Support:** Long lines persist for citizens applying for support for ages 60 to 64 at IMOS, with some resorting to camping out overnight.