**Teachers Block SENTRI Lanes at San Ysidro Border Crossing [VIDEO]**
**Primary Article:**
**Protesting Educators Halt Traffic at San Ysidro Border**
A group of teachers associated with the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE) blocked the SENTRI (Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection) and Ready Lane access at the San Ysidro border crossing. The demonstration started around 10:00 AM this Wednesday and lasted until 3:00 PM, causing significant disruption and frustration among motorists honking their horns in response.
The teachers organized the protest to voice their grievances over unpaid salaries for approximately 2,500 interim teachers who have not received compensation in over a year, with some teachers missing payments for up to four years, according to Marco Antonio Pacheco, CNTE coordinator in Baja California. The educators also expressed their dissatisfaction with union leaders who they believe have cooperated with the government in restarting classes without resolving the salary issues.
Other grievances include a contested 11% salary increase and its retroactive application for 18,600 teachers belonging to the state’s section 37 of the National Union of Education Workers (SNTE) and the State Union of Education Workers in Baja California (SETEBC).
During the protest, some drivers suggested that teachers should redirect their demonstration to the export area of the Otay port of entry to avoid affecting commuters. Furthermore, they were encouraged to address their complaints directly to Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Avila Olmeda or Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, rather than inconvenience the public.
Governor Marina del Pilar Avila Olmeda, alongside SNTE union leaders, had previously assured on August 23rd that the payment issues would be addressed and classes would resume as scheduled. However, CNTE and SETEBC members have stated they will return to classrooms only after the government resolves these dues.
Avila Olmeda reported on Wednesday that 93% of schools have reopened, though Marco Antonio Pacheco noted that around three thousand schools remain closed to students.
**Secondary Article:**
**Mexican Teachers Continue Protests Over Unpaid Salaries**
In related news, other Mexican teachers are continuing their protests across various regions in response to unpaid salaries and unfulfilled promises from the government. In a similar demonstration earlier this week, educators in Oaxaca staged a sit-in at key government buildings, demanding immediate payment of overdue salaries and improvements in their working conditions.
The national education strike has seen widespread participation from various factions, unified in their stand against what they describe as governmental neglect and mismanagement. The teachers have maintained that their demonstrations will persist until their demands for equitable salary payments and better educational resources are fully met.
Sources indicate that in addition to unpaid wages, teachers are also lobbying for better infrastructure in rural schools, where inadequate facilities have long been a barrier to quality education. As the protests stretch on, the Mexican government faces increasing pressure to address the teachers’ concerns comprehensively.
For more information on these ongoing educational protests, follow our updates at TJGringo.com.