Mexican government talks with teachers union to end deadly clashes

Latin America

The Mexican government has resumed talks with a key teachers union. It’s an attempt to end days of deadly clashes and protests that blocked roads and highways.

CCTV’s Martin Markovits reports from Mexico City.
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Schools were closed as thousands of striking teachers marched in Mexico City in support of the dissident teacher’s union in the southern state of Oaxaca.

Last month, violence broke out between teachers and police, leaving at least nine people dead. Since then, striking teachers have barricaded highways in an attempt to bring the government to the table to hold talks over a controversial educational bill that would require teachers take qualifying exams.

The teachers said the law severely strips the union of its power. The demonstrations in Mexico’s biggest city are viewed as an attempt to turn this into a national movement.

The Mexican government said the reforms are intended to change a public school system that is one of the worst in the industrialized world.

But the teachers said the real motive is to destroy the teachers’ union and privatize the education system. Most point to the mandatory evaluation, which they said, will result in many teachers being fired, including those who are politically involved.

The Mexican government began holding talks with the striking teachers in Oaxaca last week but negotiations had reportedly broken down.

Some see little hope that a compromise on the law will be reached anytime soon since Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has been firm that the educational reform will not be changed.