ACAPULCO, Mexico – We thought the tactics used by American teachers unions were nasty, but we had no idea what nasty really is.


That was until we learned of the teachers union protests in Acapulco, Mexico Wednesday – a response to education reforms recently passed by the Guerrero state legislature.

The Huffington Post reports teachers “ran wild” after a protest march in the state capital of Chilpangingo and attacked the offices of political parties and the state education department.

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“Dozens of teachers carrying sticks and stones smashed windows, spray-painted insults at President Enrique Pena Nieto on walls and destroyed computers and furniture,” the Huffington Post reports. “They set fire to the state headquarters of the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party and another building.”

Minervino Moran, spokesman for the Education Workers Union, told the news site that union officials “endorse these actions because there is a lot of anger, a lot of outrage with the decision the state congress made.”

So what were teachers so mad about?

The reforms mandate teachers must be evaluated on their work, and removes control over hiring and firing from the teachers union. Moran told the Huffington Post the law is similar to a recently adopted federal constitutional amendment that bans buying and selling teaching jobs, and institutes a national teachers test.

Guerrero teachers have been on strike since Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto signed the constitutional amendment into law two months ago. EWU members previously blocked the highway between Mexico City and the resort town of Acapulco, according to the Huffington Post.

Guerrero Gov. Angel Aguirre tweeted that arrest warrants have been issued for Moran and another union leaders for masterminding the vandalism and violence.