# Mexican Judicial Workers Strike Over New Performance Evaluation Scheme

Employees protest nationwide against potential job security risks following recent judicial reforms.

- **Source:** [El Financiero](https://www.elfinanciero.com.mx)
- **Published:** 2026-11-06
- **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics)
- **Original article:** <https://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/estados/2026/11/06/paro-del-poder-judicial-trabajadores-protestan-en-varios-estados-contra-evaluaciones-de-desempeno/>
- **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/116d10f5-b563-42b0-98a4-e6b63c78afa1

## Nationwide Judicial Work Stoppage

Federal Judiciary workers initiated an indefinite strike on November 6, 2026, across at least 40 locations in Mexico. The protest targets a new performance evaluation scheme stemming from the September 2024 judicial reform. Employees gathered outside their workplaces early Friday morning to demand the immediate cancellation of the current administrative agreement.

## Concerns Over Labor Rights

Workers argue that the new evaluation framework, published in the Official Gazette, includes punitive measures that threaten their labor rights. They fear that poor performance results could serve as a pretext for mass layoffs. While employees claim they support institutional improvement, they explicitly reject the potential for retaliatory actions against personnel.

## Escalation in Villahermosa, Tabasco

In Villahermosa, approximately 1,200 workers from the tenth circuit suspended operations indefinitely and partially blocked Gregorio Mendez Avenue. José Felipe Ochoa Landero, a union representative, warned that protests will transition from passive to active. He stated that further closures of streets, avenues, and judicial facilities are likely if authorities remain unresponsive.

## Widespread Geographic Impact

The movement has spread rapidly beyond Tabasco, affecting judicial operations in major regions including Mexico City, the State of Mexico, Michoacán, and Sinaloa. Protests were also reported in Oaxaca, Yucatán, Puebla, Chiapas, Guerrero, Nuevo León, Guanajuato, and Baja California. This widespread mobilization highlights deep-seated institutional anxiety regarding the recent judicial overhaul.

## Administrative Body Denies Risks

The Judicial Administration Body (OAJ) officially denied that the evaluations jeopardize employment status. Authorities characterized the process as a purely diagnostic exercise intended to identify training needs rather than a punitive tool. They emphasized that the assessment will not involve pass or fail grades, aiming instead to improve overall justice delivery.

## Stalemate in Official Dialogue

Despite the OAJ expressing a willingness to engage in dialogue, they have refused to modify the current evaluation scheme. The administration maintains that the assessment is a mandatory legal obligation required to strengthen professional knowledge within the judiciary. This firm stance leaves little room for compromise with the protesting labor unions.

## Context of Judicial Reform

The current unrest is a direct consequence of the sweeping judicial reforms enacted in September 2024. These changes have fundamentally altered the operational landscape of the Mexican federal court system. The friction between administrative modernization efforts and the existing workforce reflects broader tensions regarding the implementation of these significant legal structural shifts.

## Future Outlook for Judiciary

The situation remains volatile as the OAJ insists on proceeding with the December evaluations despite the ongoing strikes. The outcome of this conflict will likely determine the future of labor relations within the federal court system. Observers should monitor whether the government offers concessions to prevent further disruption of judicial services.

## Sources covering this story

- https://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/estados/2026/11/06/paro-del-poder-judicial-trabajadores-protestan-en-varios-estados-contra-evaluaciones-de-desempeno/ — 

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_Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._
