INE Office Workers Strike in 20 States, Including Mexico City

Workers at the National Electoral Institute’s (INE) Citizen Service Modules, the offices that serve the public in person, are walking off the job in at least 20 states on Monday, Nov. 9, and Mexico City is one of them, El Financiero reported. Anyone who planned a visit to a Mexico City module that day may find the office closed or short of staff.

The workers want a 100% raise, a Monday-to-Friday schedule and new equipment. INE says it is reviewing their demands, but the stoppage has been confirmed.

What the strike means for people with INE errands

The modules are known in Spanish as Módulos de Atención Ciudadana (MAC). A work stoppage at these offices affects anyone with an appointment or a pending card in the states involved. INE has not said how many modules will close or how long the stoppage will last, and it has not announced changes to appointments.

Besides Mexico City, the states listed are Baja California, Baja California Sur, Campeche, Coahuila, Colima, Chiapas, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, the State of Mexico, Michoacán, Morelos, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosí, Tlaxcala and Veracruz. The inclusion of the State of Mexico means offices in much of the wider metro area are part of the protest too.

Reports differ slightly on the date: the El Financiero headline gives Monday, Nov. 9, while one line of its story refers to Monday the 8th.

What INE workers are asking for

Module staff from the 20 states sent a list of demands to INE’s General Executive Board, its General Council and other offices. The main points are:

• A 100% pay increase, which they say would bring their salary to two minimum wages.
• Priority replacement of computers and registration devices that are outdated, damaged or fail often.
• A Monday-to-Friday workweek and a fair, uniform system for scheduling vacations.
• Updated travel, field and overnight allowances.
• Regularized employment, recognition of seniority and more job stability.
• Safety on the routes, sites and counters where they serve the public.

The workers also asked that no module employee face reprisals, threats, harassment, pay cuts or unjustified changes to their working conditions for speaking up.

How INE has responded

In a statement published Saturday, INE said it is analyzing several options to improve working conditions, “considering the needs identified” and its institutional and budget limits. The institute said it has a clear will to move toward better conditions through measures it called viable, responsible and sustainable. It did not say whether it would meet the 100% raise demand.

What to watch next

INE says the demands are under review, so the next step is its answer to the workers’ list. Residents with an INE appointment on Monday should expect possible closures at Mexico City modules until the institute or the workers announce otherwise.

Source: El Financiero