# Teachers Hold Protest at SNTE and Educational System Offices; Insist They Will Not Return to Classes
Tijuana – Members of the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE) and the State Education Workers Union (SETE) held a protest on Monday, August 26, declaring they will not return to classes until the state administration settles all outstanding debts to the teaching sector.
At the offices of the National Union of Education Workers (SNTE), a group of CNTE-affiliated teachers gathered and criticized the government’s agreements with union leaders, claiming they were made without consulting the broader teacher base.
Marco Antonio Pacheco Peña, CNTE coordinator, expressed frustration: “We are supposed to believe they are going to pay the retroactive salaries and the more than 2,700 substitute teachers who have yet to be paid. What about the teachers who have not received their severance? What about those who should have retired but are not allowed to?”
According to Pacheco Peña, only 25% of schools resumed classes on August 26. “The governor claims an agreement was reached with the teaching sector, but it was only with the union leadership, not with the teachers. The agreement isn’t accepted because it’s just a series of promises, only speaking of a possible payment by August 30, but not a complete payment,” he added.
Teachers also protested at the State Educational System offices in the Zona Río, reiterating their stance to not return to classrooms until all financial obligations are met.
María Virginia Pimentel Muñoz, SETE coordinator in Tijuana, noted that some debts to substitute teachers have been outstanding for up to two years. “The governor promised to pay active teachers their retroactive pay by Friday and retirees by next month. What matters most is making sure substitute teachers get paid for work already completed,” she stated.
Pimentel Muñoz added that over 1,500 SETE teachers in Tijuana have pledged not to return to work until all commitments are fulfilled.
## Additional News
### Students and Parents Find No Classes Amid Teacher Protests
Despite arriving in uniforms and carrying backpacks, students and their parents were met with closed classrooms and no teachers present due to ongoing protests. Only a quarter of schools in the region resumed classes as announced.
### Agreements Claimed False
Sections 2 and 37 of SNTE and the Baja California Governor announced an agreement to start classes on August 26. However, CNTE’s Pacheco Peña denied this, emphasizing that no genuine settlement was reached with the overall teaching body.
### Efforts Towards Preventing Crime in Tijuana
In a separate initiative, students from priority neighborhoods in Tijuana will receive training in crime prevention. This program will target 40 primary and secondary schools across neighborhoods like Natura, Camino Verde, Urbi Villa del Prado, and the Zona Centro.
### High Number of Disappearances Reported
Activist Paula Sandoval mentioned that up to 30,000 people are missing in Baja California. She highlighted the bureaucratic delays families face when reporting a disappearance, often being asked to wait 72 hours.
### Dollar Exchange Rates in Tijuana
Residents and travelers can check the current buying and selling rates of the US dollar in Mexican banks.
### Weather Forecast
Expect clear skies in Tijuana with a maximum temperature of 29°C.
### Budget Constraints for FGE
The Fiscal Attorney’s Office is calling for a higher budget to hire more personnel, citing that their work pace is limited by current financial resources.
For more detailed updates and news, visit [TJGringo.com].