**Ensenada Joins Statewide Strike Against Issstecali Law**
Government offices in Ensenada have joined a statewide strike opposing the reform of the Issstecali law proposed by Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda. Thousands of government workers have gathered outside central government buildings equipped with chairs, speakers, and microphones to maintain communication throughout the day.
Both state and municipal offices will be operating with limited staff, strictly composed of trusted personnel, due to the strike. Juan José Villalobos Millán, the Secretary-General, mentioned that over 2,000 base employees and union members from the state government, municipal government, and decentralized entities in Ensenada convened at 8:00 am to participate in this assembly occurring simultaneously in all municipalities across the state. This large turnout follows a meeting held yesterday between Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda and the state leader, Guillermo Aldrete Casarín, with an anticipated response from the state administration to benefit the civil servants.
“We will stay in this meeting with all our base workers until the government addresses the commitment made with the bureaucracy, ensuring that the reform initiative is agreed upon by the workers, without increasing the retirement age to 68, without enrolling workers in private pension funds (afores), and without infringing on any acquired labor rights,” Villalobos Millán stated.
**More on the Strike Against the Issstecali Reform**
Beyond Ensenada, other municipalities have shown solidarity in the strike, bringing the entire state to a standstill. Union leaders argue that the proposed reforms are detrimental to workers’ rights and seek a more favorable resolution. Various protests have been carried out with plans of escalation if the government does not respond satisfactorily.
Additionally, the backlash against the proposed increase in the retirement age has resonated deeply, given the significant implications for public sector workers. The proposed changes also include shifts in how pensions are managed, which workers fear might disadvantage them in the long run.
The ongoing discussions between the government and union representatives aim to reach a compromise that protects workers’ interests while addressing the state’s fiscal challenges. The situation remains tense, and both sides are under pressure to find a resolution soon.