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By KELIN DILLON

On Monday, Oct. 16, members of Mexico’s National Union of Renewal at the Service of Workers of the Judicial Branch of the Federation (STPJF) held a national strike in protest of the in-power National Regeneration Movement’s (Morena) initiative to cut more than 15 billion pesos and 13 trusts away from the Mexican judiciary.

Morena’s leader and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) first announced the funding slashes during his daily morning press conference on Oct. 4 – a move some political analysts have characterized as an electoral strategy rather than one of austerity.

“The judiciary is rotten,” said the federal executive at the time. “There are exceptions in judges, in magistrates, in ministers, but the rule is that this power is taken, it is kidnapped, it is at the service of the mafia of economic power and political power and this is more proof: They granted protection to former Secretary of Public Security Genero García Luna.”

In light of Morena and AMLO’s efforts to defund the judiciary – and subsequently, its workers – the STPJF elected to mobilize in protest against the initiative and to demand its workers’ labor rights on Monday.

“This is a serious attack against the labor rights of the worker base, as at least six trusts are related to employer obligations, the fulfillment of which constitute workers’ rights, both labor and social security: pension, housing, health coverage, health and retirement,” the union said in a statement.

STPJF General Secretary Juan Alberto Prado Gómez called for a peaceful protest, including a march and rally on Mexican Congress in Mexico City beginning at 9 a.m.

The union is also expected to hold another demonstration on Oct. 24 at the Chamber of Deputies during the opening of the legislative branch’s 2024 budget discussions.