Politics · Mexico · 2 hrs ago
IMSS and union open pay talks after workers reject 2.9% offer
IMSS workers rejected a proposed 2.9% pay rise in a secret vote, prompting the institute and its union to open talks on a new offer.
The negotiations involve Mexico’s Social Security Institute, known as IMSS, and the National Union of Social Security Workers.
Workers are demanding a 10% increase to their base salary, along with the removal of union leader Rafael Olivos.
They say the increase must apply to base pay, not benefits, because base salary is used to calculate pensions for newly hired workers.
Workers say they were not invited to the negotiating table, despite the talks being presented as a response to the vote.
They also plan further demonstrations, with a nationwide march announced for October 21 and road blockades expected to begin Friday.
IMSS says it will seek a better pay and working-conditions offer, while its director says medical care and services are operating normally.
The institute and union will continue discussions, but workers say they will keep protesting until their demands are met.
IMSS and the SNTSS union opened a negotiation table to develop a new salary and working-conditions proposal after workers rejected the previous offer.
That offer included a 2.9% increase to base salary and a 3.9% increase in benefits, for a total of 6.8%.
Workers are demanding a 10% increase to base salary and say they will continue protesting.
They announced a second national march for October 21 and are also seeking the removal of union secretary general Rafael Olivos.
Some workers said they were not invited to the negotiation table and questioned whether it represented their interests.
- Who
- The Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) and the National Union of Social Security Workers (SNTSS). Workers, including Rafael Soto, are pressing for a larger base-salary increase.
- What
- IMSS and the union opened talks on a new salary and working-conditions proposal after workers rejected the previous offer.
- When
- The negotiation table was installed on October 15, 2026. Workers announced a national march for October 21.
- Where
- The talks concern IMSS workers in Mexico. The announced march is planned across the country.
- Why
- Workers rejected the previous offer and are seeking a 10% increase to base salary and improved working conditions. Some also demand Rafael Olivos’s removal as union secretary general.
Workers protesting
IMSS and SNTSS representatives
Salary proposal
Workers protesting
Workers demand a 10% increase directly to base salary and rejected an offer of 2.9% to base salary plus 3.9% in benefits.
IMSS and SNTSS representatives
IMSS and the union opened talks to build a new salary and working-conditions proposal; the sources do not state a new offer.
Participation in talks
Workers protesting
Some workers said they had not been contacted or invited and questioned the value of the negotiation table.
IMSS and SNTSS representatives
IMSS and the union said the table was established to discuss a new proposal and improve working conditions.
Union leadership
Workers protesting
Protesters demand the removal of SNTSS secretary general Rafael Olivos.
IMSS and SNTSS representatives
The sources report that Olivos took part in the negotiations but do not state his response to the removal demand.
Workers voted against the proposed 2.9% base-salary increase and 3.9% increase in benefits.
IMSS and SNTSS representatives installed a table to discuss a new salary and working-conditions proposal.
Workers announced a second national march for October 21 and said protests would continue.
Workers plan to hold the announced national march.
- Previous offer
- 2.9% increase to base salary and 3.9% to benefits, totaling 6.8%
- Workers’ salary demand
- 10% increase directly to base salary
- Negotiation participants
- Zoé Robledo, IMSS director general, and Rafael Olivos, SNTSS secretary general
- Planned march
- October 21, 2026, across the country
- Protesters’ union demand
- Removal of Rafael Olivos as SNTSS secretary general
6 sources
Nueva marcha nacional del IMSS: ¿Cuándo será y cuál es la principal exigencia de los trabajadores?
IMSS y SNTSS instalan la mesa de negociación salarial tras rechazo a propuesta previa
IMSS instala mesa de renegociación salarial con sindicato y sin trabajadores; amagan con nuevos bloqueos y movilización
Trabajadores del IMSS no bajan los brazos y anuncian marcha nacional para el 21 de octubre
What people are saying
We will not stop this movement, and we will march every 8 or 15 days until Rafael Olivos’s head is handed over.
No one has contacted or invited us; we do not know what Zoé Robledo means by his table, the reality is that the dialogue table already had its chance and it was a joke.
The 10% increase we demand must be reflected directly in the base salary and not in benefits.
We will keep marching until this Rafael Olivos’s head falls.
Posts on X
🤝 En @Tu_IMSS respetamos la decisión de las y los trabajadores que, mediante una consulta libre y secreta, votaron sobre la propuesta de incremento salarial. Como lo informó la presidenta @Claudiashein, instalaremos una mesa de trabajo con el SNTSS para analizar alternativas