Teachers Protest for Unpaid Wages

Education workers, backed by parents, free Tijuana-Tecate toll booth to protest unpaid wages for interim teachers. Displaying banners, they allow motorists to pass without fees.

**Teachers Release Tijuana-Tecate Toll Booth Due to Unpaid Wages for Interim Teachers**

In an act of protest, around 150 education workers, supported by parents, gathered on Wednesday morning to open the Tijuana-Tecate toll booth free of charge. They displayed banners highlighting their grievances and allowed motorists to pass without paying the toll.

Members of the Baja California Statewide Resistance Movement from the SNTE Section 2 liberated the toll booth as a demonstration against the non-payment of wages to interim teachers. They also called for various other reforms, including the regularization of education workers who meet their schedules, the conversion of UMAS (Measurement and Update Units) to minimum wages for pensions and retirements, and opposition to the USICAMM law.

Marco Antonio Pacheco, leader of the resistance movement, emphasized that over 3,000 interim teachers are still owed payments. Although the Baja California government announced that all outstanding payments, including the retroactive pay related to wage increases, would be settled by August 30, Pacheco described the payments made so far as “minuscule.” He added that the retroactive pay differential was also not fully covered, and as a result, around 55% of preschool, primary, and secondary schools remain without classes in the state.

Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda has assured that schools remain open and that all payments were made according to the scheduled dates, specifically mentioning August 13 and 30. “There are committed payment dates, and all retroactives were paid on Friday, including the salary increases and bonuses,” Ávila Olmeda confirmed.

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**Teachers Continue Partial Strike, Report Incomplete Payments**

As of Wednesday morning, about 150 teachers, along with parents, continued their partial strike by displaying banners and removing fees at the Tijuana-Tecate toll booth. Despite government assurances of complete payments by the end of August, Marco Antonio Pacheco, leader of the State Resistance Movement, highlighted that the payments issued were inadequate and did not cover the wage increase differentials fully. Notably, over half of the educational institutions in Baja California, including preschools, elementary, and secondary schools, have not resumed regular classes. Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda stated that payments are on schedule, but the teachers’ dissatisfaction indicates continuing issues in payment disbursement.