Stumbling into the Teacher’s Labor Union Strike in Mexico City
Photo & Text by Francisco Montanez
23 June 2025
My eyes and feet were only meant to roam, admiring stunning architecture and capturing fleeting moments with the press of a shutter. This particular moment redefines my intentions, allowing my curiosity to deepen into a growing awareness for the history and current events of these destinations.
On May 25th, I unknowingly encountered a protest camp for Teacher’s Labor Union Strike at Zócalo Plaza in La Ciudad de México.
Looking up has its advantages at times. Over the shoulder of someone on a path to the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, carving a route through the camp as the clouds move closer
Flying standby with a major global airline feels like a superpower… the ability to fly anywhere any given moment, and It’s a privilege that won’t last forever. About a month ago, I chose Mexico City as an escape from ordinary life to observe the realities of others. The food was immaculate, the buildings stunning, and the people — profound, uplifting me personally and my perspective on society.
On a solo day trip, armed with my trusted FujiFilm X-T2 and a keen eye, I stumbled onto the largest encampment I’ve ever seen @ Zocalo Plaza, also known as the National Palace. Hundreds of protestors and tents surrounded the square, participating in the National Teacher’s strike that had hovered over Latin America for the past several months.
Close to the ground, I walked through the tents while crouching and even staying under for a brief amount of time while heavy rain prevailed. These are tents that remained stagnant over the course of 3 months already by the time I came by.
If you’ve ever played any game from the Uncharted or Assassin’s Creed series, you’d understand how I felt as the main character, navigating a maze of tents and protestors in awe, on a mission to reach the ominous Gothic church (the Metropolitan Cathedral) at the far end of the plaza. Midway through, a thunderstorm even spawned in, turning my walk into a race to the church.
Looking past my main character quirks, I learned more than I anticipated about the reality of teacher rights and education in la Ciudad. The wave of teacher strikes began this spring, with 20,000 teachers affiliated to the National Coordination of Education Workers (CNTE) walking out on May 15th in protest of right-wing policies pushed by the current Sheinbaum administration. This movement is not an isolated incident— it stretches across Latin America, as teachers in Panama, Argentina, Colombia and Brazil also fight for better rights and wages.
The teachers’ protest at the National Palace officially disbanded on June 9th, allowing Zócalo Plaza to return to its usual rhythm. However, this resolution did not include any concrete steps to address the CNTE’s demands, and the union plans to continue organizing local demonstrations in the future.
“Policía: Cañada Sect or: Teotitlan D-I-167 Mazatlán Villa de Flores”
Navigating the Encampments
We can’t overlook our own current political climate in California, with the massive ICE raids on these very communities. A quote that comes to mind is “Fear is masked by oppression”— a truth that resonated with me deeply back then and echos even louder today.
I like to think I was meant to be there in the moment, without initially seeking it. I ask myself: can the same depth of understanding come from deliberately searching for it? Or is the real lesson to stay open-minded while exploring — allowing discovery to come freely?
Vendors and Markets forming in the middle of Zocalo Plaza
Region Valle: CNTE Sección Chiapas 7 Abrogacion de la ley del issue del 2007. Abrogation de la Reforma Educativa, Peña-AMLD de 2019. Justicia Social Democracia Sindical
Additional Photo from Travels “Skyline from El Biblioteca Vasconcelos