14 Oct 2024 | 03:03 PM UTC
Mexico: Federal judiciary workers to conclude nationwide strike Oct. 16 /update 9
Federal judiciary plan to suspend nationwide strike in Mexico from Oct. 16.
Unionized federal judiciary employees will end the nationwide strike across Mexico on Oct. 16. The work stoppage, which began on Aug. 19 and lasted 54 days, was originally to denounce judicial reforms proposed by the national government. On Oct. 12, judicial workers voted to formally end the strike and resume work from Oct. 16. Participants have indicated, however, that they will continue with legal actions against the reform.
The changes to the judiciary pursued by the government include electing federal and state judges, such as justices on the Supreme Court, via public elections. This has garnered significant controversy, with critics arguing that it threatens the courts' independence.
The reforms passed their initial hurdle Aug. 26, when the constitutional points commission from the lower chamber of Mexico's Congress approved them. On Aug. 31, two federal judges in Chiapas and Morelos issued rulings that sought to temporarily halt the debate on the reforms in Congress and prevent them from being sent to state congresses for approval. On Sept. 2, employees of the Supreme Court joined the nationwide strike. The lower house, nevertheless, debated the reforms and approved them Sept. 4, sending them to the Senate. The Senate approved the reform Sept. 11, and sent it to the state legislatures for ratification. The President signed it into law on Sept. 15. Supreme Court employees ended their participation on Sept. 17, but protests persisted. On Oct. 11, despite being ordered by judiciary counselors, striking workers agreed to refrain from work on Oct. 14 and continue their strike to pressure the federal government to overturn the reforms.
