Issstecali Reform Standoff

Baja California bureaucrats reject Issstecali reform, push for financial revamp. Union fears rights infringements, advocates for audit to address crisis. Call for consensus gains momentum amid growing concerns.

**Bureaucrats Reject Proposed Reform of Issstecali, Advocate for Financial Restructuring**

In Tijuana, the bureaucrats’ union of Baja California is opposing any legislative reform to the Issstecali health and social services institution, advocating instead for a comprehensive financial reengineering to address its economic crisis. The union’s general secretary, José Guillermo Aldrete Casarín, emphasized the need to optimize resources without altering the law, after state government representatives declared the institution bankrupt. He insisted that a full audit of Issstecali’s finances, which has never been done before, could highlight mismanaged funds, such as their use for non-essential bonuses over necessary payments for medical supplies.

On November 6, union members and other state employees plan to gather in Mexicali’s Plaza de Los Tres Poderes, aiming to voice their concerns directly to the state government. The union fears that legal reforms, similar to those enacted in Zacatecas, could infringe on workers’ rights by increasing retirement age and capping pensions. Aldrete Casarín suggested that liabilities totaling six billion pesos owed by various governmental bodies to Issstecali need urgent attention, as the crisis has caused significant delays in granting retirements to qualified union members.

**Secondary Article**

**Call for Consensus on Issstecali Reform Gains Momentum**

As the situation with Issstecali unfolds, Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar has called for a consensus-driven approach to any potential reforms of the institution’s governing laws. Del Pilar emphasized the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders to address the financial instability of Issstecali and ensure a fair resolution.

In parallel, retired and pensioned employees from the Baja California State Public Utilities Commission (Cespt) have joined the call to block reforms, asserting the need for a transparent audit and debt settlements by municipalities. Their alliance with the bureaucrats’ union highlights a growing concern over unaddressed financial mismanagement and the potential fallout of hastened legislative changes.

This heightened scrutiny comes amid escalating public discourse surrounding the operational deficiencies within Issstecali, including supply shortages and lack of specialist availability. The upcoming assembly on November 6 is expected to further galvanize these collective aims, pressing the state government for transparency and sustainable solutions without infringing on worker rights.