**Statewide Strike at ISSSTECALI in Protest of Reform, Retroactive Payments, and Salary Increase**
Workers across the state have initiated an indefinite strike at the Social Security and Services Institute for State Workers and Municipalities of Baja California (ISSSTECALI) as of Friday, November 15, 2024. The strike is in response to unmet demands for a 2024 salary increase, overdue retroactive payments, and opposition to a new legislative reform.
Guillermo Aldrete CasarĂn, General Secretary of the Bureaucrats’ Union, highlighted that the reform in question proposes reductions in pension amounts and raises the retirement age to 68. This has sparked outrage among workers, many of whom have dedicated over 30 years to public service, often working multiple shifts. Aldrete argues that workers who have earned their pensions should not have to suffer due to mismanagement of funds by municipalities like Ensenada and Tecate, which reportedly owe the institute up to 6 billion pesos.
Aldrete also pointed fingers at the 60 properties ISSSTECALI has received in lieu of payments, questioning why they are not being sold to alleviate the current financial crisis instead of compromising workers’ pensions.
Furthermore, he requested the enforcement of a previously signed collective agreement promising a 2024 salary increase and retroactive payments. Despite this agreement being signed in Mexicali 14 days prior, a board meeting required to authorize these payments was not scheduled until the afternoon of the strike day. The issue of authorizing the payments was notably absent from the meeting agenda.
Around 1,800 workers are affected, spanning from administrative roles to medical staff. Cesar Vaca, a general nurse, expressed his frustration that despite four years in service, his weekly salary of around $4,100 has remained stagnant since the pandemic, impacting his family’s ability to cope with inflation.
The workforce expressed their determination not to leave the ISSSTECALI premises at El Mirador until a payment authorization is granted. They expressed hopes that key officials, including the state’s governor and institute authorities, would take their grievances seriously, as the issues at hand extend beyond the proposed reform.
**Secondary Article: Additional Protests and Financial Challenges Facing ISSSTECALI**
In the wake of the ongoing strike, attention has turned to the broader financial challenges facing ISSSTECALI. According to local sources, the financial health of the institute has been deteriorating over recent years. Besides pension and salary disputes, one of the core issues has been chronic underfunding by municipal governments, leading to growing debts that impede operational effectiveness.
Stakeholders urge the sale of assets as a temporary relief measure, yet call for more sustainable solutions, such as increased fiscal responsibility and efficient collection of municipal contributions. There’s also a push for a comprehensive audit of ISSSTECALI’s finances, hoping it will unveil the extent of fiscal mismanagement and outline clear steps to recovery.
Local government officials have acknowledged the complexity of the issue but emphasize the need for reform to secure the future of public service pensions amidst changing demographic patterns.
As the strike continues, public pressure mounts on the government to resolve these complex financial and administrative challenges promptly. The workers’ determination and the public’s support highlight a critical moment for ISSSTECALI and its stakeholders to reassess policies and prioritize worker rights and financial sustainability.