More than 140 trains are stranded in Michoacán due to teachers’ union blockades that went up just over a week ago.

Railroad operator Kansas City Southern de México said the petroleum industry is one of those most affected. One of the trains consists of 96 tanker cars destined for the refinery in Tula, Hidalgo, said company president José Zozaya.

Another rail operator said other industries are also suffering from the impact of the blockades. Ferromex spokeswoman Lourdes Arana said 8,000 containers of goods are awaiting shipment in the ports of Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, and Manzanillo, Colima.

She urged that education officials in the Michoacán government negotiate with the teachers, members of the CNTE union, who are demanding the payment of monies that they claim have been owed since 2017.

Zozaya called on teachers to negotiate away from the railroad tracks.

“We understand that the teachers have their reasons [for the blockades] but I would invite them to negotiate away from the railway because they are not only impacting industry in Michoacán and Mexico but railroad workers and those in other sectors whose incomes have been affected by the blockades.”

President López Obrador today offered money to pay the teachers, but insisted that it would be in the form of a loan.

“It’s the Michoacán government’s problem because they haven’t paid the teachers.”

He said the federal government won’t be blackmailed by the state.

The Mexican Association of Shipping Agents said yesterday that losses total 820 million pesos (US $43 million) as a result of the stoppage although other estimates put the cost at closer to 8 billion pesos.

Source: El Sol de Centro (sp), Heraldo de México (sp), Reforma (sp)