Support for Mexican teachers’ union

Mexican police unleashed violent repression against the striking teachers of Oaxaca Local 22 of the Mexican National Education Workers Union (SNTE) on June 14. Using tear gas and weapons, the police raided the union hall and arrested union leaders.

SNTE—along with a number of progressive unions in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Latin American countries such as Ecuador and Argentina—is an active member of the Initiative for Democratic Education in the Americas.

Hundreds and hundreds of union resolutions expressing solidarity have poured into SNTE headquarters. Here is a selection from a resolution passed unanimously at the June 15 delegate assembly of one member of IDEA, the Professional Staff Congress of the City University of New York, AFT Local 2334:

“Resolved, that PSC-CUNY join in the growing international condemnation of this state violence to break the Oaxaca teachers’ union; condemns the state police attack on our striking brother and sister teachers in Oaxaca; fully supports the demand of Local 22 of the SNTE for wages, adequate school funding, school buildings and supplies, and student stipends for the poor; and expresses admiration for their courage and organization in winning such wide public support of their struggle and defending their encampment; and be it further

“Resolved, that PSC-CUNY calls on the Oaxaca governor and the Mexican president to end all police attacks on the teachers immediately, to return to negotiations, and to meet the teachers’ just demands.”