**Teachers Protest ISSSTECALI Reform in Tijuana; Residents Express Frustration**
On the morning of December 5th, teachers in Tijuana blocked Aguacaliente Boulevard, near Preparatoria Federal Lázaro Cárdenas, before marching to the Cuauhtémoc Monument in Zona Río, to protest a reform to the ISSSTECALI law. This action sparked frustration among local citizens, who expressed their displeasure, claiming they are “fed up” with such disruptions.
“I was supposed to arrive at my job 15 minutes ago, but I can’t because the road is blocked. This happens all the time; they protest without considering whom they impact. I thought an agreement had already been made with the governor. I don’t understand why they continue this; it only harms people like us. They should block government offices, not the streets,” said one worker caught in the protest on his way to work.
Another affected individual, Don José, noted his frustration as he would be arriving late to his job. “I live in La Presa and usually leave home two hours early just to make it on time. But today, because of this, I won’t make it. Being late costs me as it gets deducted from my salary. I believe I speak for all those impacted when I say we’re tired of this. They should take their grievances to the governor, not us,” he shared.
In response, a teacher participating in the protest urged solidarity from the public, stating that their aim is not to inconvenience citizens but to press the authorities to halt the reform.
Another teacher demanded an audit of ISSSTECALI and insisted that those in arrears, responsible for the institute’s precarious state, pay up. “ISSSTECALI declined when governors of all parties used it as their petty cash, coupled with employers not reporting contributions. Now, health services deteriorate, and pension payments are delayed. We need an audit to track fund usage and demand that all debtors, including those who have stolen, pay their dues,” he said.
**Governor Denies Reform Plans, Promises ISSSTECALI Revamp**
In response to these protests, the Governor of Baja California, Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda, claimed there are no current reform projects for ISSSTECALI. Instead, she outlined a plan to restore the institution. During a press conference on December 4 at CEART in Tijuana, she stated, “We are not increasing the retirement age to 68 or forgiving municipalities’ debts. Our focus is to manage ISSSTECALI’s resources efficiently to fulfill pension obligations.”
She announced the commencement of a “restructuring and internal engineering” process for ISSSTECALI, starting in January 2025, which will include evaluating salaries and the entire structure of the institute.
The governor highlighted that several public institutions owe ISSSTECALI substantial amounts. For example, Ensenada’s City Council owes about a billion pesos, with debts dating back to 2012, while Tecate’s debt has grown to over a billion pesos since 2010. These debts make up about half of all public institutions’ total debts to ISSSTECALI, tallying over six billion pesos. Other institutions like Mexicali’s City Council, the Judiciary, and various state entities collectively owe hundreds of millions more.
**Secondary Article: Broader Implications and Public Reactions to ISSSTECALI Reorganization**
The recent protest by teachers in Tijuana against proposed changes to ISSSTECALI has not only captured local attention but also reignited debates on the future of public pension and healthcare systems in the region. The ISSSTECALI, Baja California’s public health and pension provider, has been struggling with financial difficulties attributed to unpaid debts by various municipalities and state entities. The proposed overhaul aims to address these financial challenges, but it has sparked mixed reactions across different community segments.
While many civil servants welcome the attempt to stabilize ISSSTECALI’s finances, there is skepticism regarding the efficacy of the proposed changes, given past administrative failures and corruption. Concerns are also rising on how potential austerity measures might impact service quality and employee benefits. Economic analysts suggest that any effective resolution would require stringent auditing, better fund management, and consistent enforcement of payment obligations by indebted municipalities.
As tensions rise, the situation underscores a wider struggle facing public sector institutions in managing long-term financial liabilities while maintaining service standards, a challenge not unique to Baja California but prevalent across different state-run systems in Mexico. Public sentiment remains divided; some advocate for tough fiscal reforms, while others fear adverse consequences on livelihoods, urging careful consideration and transparent negotiations between government and public workers.
The unfolding developments around ISSSTECALI will significantly test the leadership balance between fiscal responsibility and social equity, with wider implications for state governance and public trust.