## Teachers Continue Strike Over Partial Payments from State Government
Teachers in Baja California remain on strike due to debts owed by the state government concerning payments to interim teachers and salary increases. The last payroll received on August 15 was incomplete, according to the education workers.
María Virginia Pimentel Muñoz, coordinator of the State Workers Union of Education (SETE), stated, “They only paid us part of the retroactive amount. Our fortnightly paycheck does not reflect the salary increase, which means they still owe us the salary increase.”
Teachers protesting outside the State’s Secretary of Education delegation in Tijuana have reported that Section 37 of the National Union of Education Workers (SNTE) received only the retroactive payment for the salary increase.
During her weekly conference on August 28, Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda indicated that teachers would receive their 11% salary increase and the retroactive amount by August 15.
Lydia Guillén Ceceña, a member of the democratic committee of the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE), emphasized that her union section would not return to classes to begin the school year until the payment to interim teachers is resolved. “There are no agreements. Our last meeting last week revealed there is no money, hence no agreements,” she noted.
Elías Díaz Preciado, leader of the democratic committee of CNTE, representing 550 workers, urged state authorities to address the debts owed to teachers. “We are still waiting for the payroll. The payrolls that came out do not meet the teachers’ needs because they are reduced. The strike is in the hands of the governor and educational authorities,” he expressed.
Last week, the State Secretary of Education indicated that 93% of educational institutions had resumed classes, but this figure has not been updated since.
## Additional News
In Tijuana, the reopening of the San Ysidro Port of Entry’s SENTRI lanes was blocked by teachers protesting the owed payments. The demonstration coincided with the scheduled return to classes; teachers demanded arrears be settled.
The educational sector in Baja California has reported that for the past 12 years, teachers have not had access to housing credit. The situation has been an ongoing grievance voiced by the State Workers Union of Education in Baja California (SETEBC).
Moreover, the disappearance of Servando Salazar Cano has led to the arrest of two Prime Wheel employees. Concerns mount as Salazar’s family and authorities continue their search.
Following the protests by educators, school uniform vendors were initially affected, but sales have started to recover. Bertha Vázquez, a local vendor, mentioned, “Sales stopped entirely for a week. It was only after the 30th and 31st that people began purchasing again.”
There has also been minimal use of prepaid transit cards on buses along the Agua Caliente corridor, attributed to a lack of public awareness and a prevalent cash payment habit.
Finally, Tijuana’s 2024 Fair will feature various musical performances, including Inspector, Elefante, and Julión Álvarez. Visitors can check the schedules for the seven concerts taking place.
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