IMSS Workers March in CDMX Nov. 9 Against 8% Raise: Streets Affected
IMSS workers march Monday, Nov. 9, from Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI to the Zócalo at 15:00. Expect closures on Cuauhtémoc, Eje Central and 5 de Mayo.
Workers at the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) will march through central Mexico City on Monday, Nov. 9, starting at 15:00, according to El Financiero. They will gather at the Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI hospital complex and walk to the Zócalo, so drivers and bus riders should expect delays on Avenida Cuauhtémoc, Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas and Calle 5 de Mayo.
The march is part of a national day of protest against an 8% overall pay deal that IMSS management reached with the union leadership. Workers say it falls short and want a direct 10% raise.
What it means for getting around on Monday
The route runs from the medical center area in the Doctores neighborhood north toward the Centro Histórico. El Financiero listed three roads likely to be affected:
- Avenida Cuauhtémoc, the main approach from Centro Médico.
- Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas, one of the busiest north-south routes into downtown.
- Calle 5 de Mayo, which leads into the Zócalo.
Expect the heaviest traffic near Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI when marchers gather and in the old downtown blocks as they arrive. Drivers are advised to leave earlier than usual and use other routes. City authorities had not published a list of closures or transit changes in the source report, so routes may shift on the day.
Why IMSS workers are protesting
The trigger was the pay increase IMSS Director General Zoé Robledo announced on Oct. 21. It adds up to 8%, but only half of that goes to base salary: 4% is a raise to the official pay scale and the other 4% is a housing rent allowance. Workers rejected the deal and are holding out for a straight 10% increase in salary.
Marchers are also demanding the removal of Rafael Olivos Hernández, secretary general of the national executive committee of the National Union of Social Security Workers (SNTSS). Protesters accuse him of violating labor law and the union’s own bylaws. These are accusations, and the source report did not include a response from Olivos Hernández.
The list of complaints goes beyond pay. Workers want:
- respect for labor rights and better working conditions;
- full and timely supplies of medicine, materials and medical equipment;
- guarantees of a decent retirement;
- an end to what they describe as intimidation, reprisals and harassment inside the union.
What to watch
The Mexico City march is one of several actions meant to push IMSS management and the union leadership to reopen talks on pay. Residents who rely on IMSS clinics may want to check with their clinic about Monday appointments, since the source did not say whether services will be affected.
Source: telegra.ph
