Mexican public school teachers demonstrated on Friday to seek a significant salary increase, fearing huge protests at the start of the World Cup on June 11.
On Teacher’s Day, approximately 3,000 members of the National Education Workers union marched through Mexico City but were greeted by a wall of police that prevented them from reaching the education ministry.
“Education isn’t a priority, but the million-dollar business of the World Cup is,” a protester’s placard read.
Another demonstrator marched with a soccer ball between his feet.
The government and the official leadership of the teachers’ union have agreed to a 9% rise, but the organization is split. A dissident wing is seeking a 100% rise.
Mexican public school teachers earn a monthly starting gross pay of $967.
“We demand the fulfilling of our demands,” one protesting teacher, Filiberto Fraustro Orozco, from the northern state of Zacatecas, told AFP, adding that union members have agreed to stage intense protests during the World Cup.
Previous teacher strikes have effectively shut down much of Mexico City for days at a time by blocking major routes, including access to the international airport.
Mexico expects roughly five million tourists to attend the World Cup, which will be held jointly by the United States and Canada.
