Workers at the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) march in Mexico City on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, a week after rejecting in a vote the 6.8% overall raise their union had agreed, while the National Union of Social Security Workers (SNTSS) requested an extension to November 15 to avoid a strike, according to [Milenio](https://www.milenio.com/politica/imss-que-pasara-con-los-trabajadores-tras-la-prorroga). President Claudia Sheinbaum asked IMSS director Zoé Robledo for a new proposal: "It has to be this week", she said at her October 20 morning press conference (Maya Comunicación).
The IMSS dispute involves more than 476,000 workers affiliated with the SNTSS, according to Infobae. This is what is known about the offer, the demands and the deadlines.
The raise IMSS workers rejected
The proposal approved by the SNTSS congress added up to 6.8%, but only part of it went to wages. The rest was benefits, and that split was at the heart of the rejection.
| Component of the 2026-2027 offer | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Direct raise to the base pay scale | 2.9% |
| Increase in benefits | 3.9% |
| Overall total | 6.8% |
| What dissenting workers demand | 10% (some sources cite 5% to wages) |
Sources: Infobae and Maya Comunicación. The vote was held on October 14 at about 670 polling stations, with federal observers and the Federal Center for Conciliation and Labor Registration. SNTSS leader Rafael Olivos Hernández acknowledged that "no won" and pledged to seek alternatives. No official vote counts were published, and some outlets reported complaints of irregularities.
Timeline of the IMSS dispute
| Date (2026) | Event |
|---|---|
| October 8 | Workers call a national stoppage and set up a sit-in on Reforma after a meeting with no deal at the Interior Ministry (La Jornada) |
| October 9 | Two sit-ins begin: at the SNTSS headquarters (Zamora 107, Condesa) and outside IMSS offices (Reforma 476) |
| October 10 | Protests in Mexico City, Campeche, Oaxaca and Querétaro (Infobae) |
| October 13 | March of about 7,000 people from the Siglo XXI National Medical Center to Reforma 476 |
| October 14 | Wage vote: the 6.8% offer is rejected |
| October 15 | Original deadline of the contract review |
| October 17 | SNTSS reports it requested an extension to November 15 |
| October 20 | Sheinbaum asks Robledo for a new proposal this week |
| October 21 | New national march, from 3:00 p.m., at the Siglo XXI National Medical Center |
What IMSS workers are demanding
- A 10% raise focused on wages, not benefits.
- The removal of Rafael Olivos Hernández as SNTSS secretary general and an extraordinary congress to elect new leaders.
- More medical and administrative staff, and regularization of those working without a formal contract, some since the pandemic.
- Supply of medicines and materials. Robledo said supply reaches 94% but acknowledged gaps (Infobae).
- Lower workloads and better hospital infrastructure.
According to the march organizers, seven union sections have been taken over by dissenting workers (Maya Comunicación). Sheinbaum said Olivos's removal "is a union matter, it is not decided by the President", and that Robledo's position "is not in doubt", according to Milenio.
Will there be a strike at the IMSS?
Not for now. The extension the SNTSS requested from the Federal Center for Conciliation and Labor Registration extends talks to November 15, so there is no formal strike under way. Some reports cite the Federal Labor Court as the venue; Milenio and Maya Comunicación cite the Federal Conciliation Center. What there are is marches and sit-ins by dissident groups, which are not a legal strike.
| Scenario | What would happen |
|---|---|
| New offer approved in a vote | The raise applies and the review closes |
| New offer rejected | More protests and pressure on union leaders |
| No deal by November 15 | The union could call a strike or request another extension |
What is expected after the extension, according to Milenio, includes a new wage agreement that must be voted on again, faster distribution of medicines, regularization of positions, changes to the retirement regime and reforms to the Social Security Law to strengthen sickness and maternity insurance.
What the government proposed for the IMSS
Sheinbaum asked Robledo to find spending cuts in areas that do not affect care and use those funds to improve the wage offer, and to review the cases of workers without contracts (Expansión Política). She did not say what percentage will be offered. Robledo is also leading a "floor by floor" plan in 277 hospitals, prioritizing high-specialty medical units. Deputy Health Secretary Eduardo Clark acknowledged documented cases of medicines diverted for outside sale, though he said it is not widespread.
What it means for IMSS patients
As long as there is no strike, IMSS services keep running. Marches may affect traffic on Cuauhtémoc Avenue and the central stretch of Reforma from mid-afternoon. To put the wages at stake in context, compare with Mexico's 2026 minimum wage and the aguinaldo bonus.
Frequently asked questions
What raise were IMSS workers offered?
6.8% overall: 2.9% directly to the base pay scale and 3.9% in benefits. It was rejected in the October 14, 2026 vote.
What are IMSS workers asking for?
Dissenting groups want a 10% raise focused on wages, plus more staff and medicine supplies.
Is there a strike at the IMSS?
No. The SNTSS requested an extension to November 15, 2026 to keep negotiating. There are marches and sit-ins, but no formal strike.
When is the IMSS march?
October 21, 2026 at 3:00 p.m., from the Siglo XXI National Medical Center in Mexico City's Doctores neighborhood.
Who leads the IMSS union?
Rafael Olivos Hernández, SNTSS secretary general. Part of the protesters want him out.
