As part of the national strike called by the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE), teachers in Baja California, led by José Marco Antonio Pacheco Peña, the state coordinator of the organization, announced on Monday a partial closure of the San Ysidro border crossing from San Diego to Tijuana. This move is meant to pressure the federal government.

“The protest camp in Mexico City continues to grow, despite false rumors that it would be taken down. Here in Baja California, we’re standing firm. We’re going to block access for those coming from San Diego to Tijuana, and we ask people to use alternate routes like the Otay border crossing,” said the teachers’ leader in an interview.

This action is part of a national strategy to bring attention to the fight by democratic teachers for the repeal of the 2007 ISSSTE law and the 1997 Social Security law, as well as to demand fair pensions and the recovery of Afore retirement funds. “This is about political will, not a lack of resources,” said Pacheco Peña.

He also warned that an international mobilization is being planned in coordination with teachers’ unions from the southern part of the continent, which could result in a commercial boycott at the country’s main border crossings. “We’re starting in Tijuana, where the country begins. This is a direct action to make sure the teachers are heard and to show that the protests aren’t just happening in four states.”

The union leader also harshly criticized the federal government, accusing it of betraying the teaching profession after having relied on its support to gain power. “Now they call us neoliberals and conservatives, but we’ve always fought against that. We demand that they keep their word promise or not because that’s what’s right.”