The AFT and the AFL-CIO Solidarity Center sent a team of observers to Leon, Mexico, in late May to support a group of independent teachers fighting to win an election against an incumbent government-controlled union. The independent teacher group, known by its acronym SITESABES, has been battling state government officials to win better salaries, build more classrooms and improve working conditions in the impoverished region of Guanajuato. Teacher union activists have been harassed and intimidated and reportedly as many as 30 may have been fired for their organizing efforts.

Six of those fired attended the most recent New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) representative assembly, where they described their fight for legitimate status and the immediate, unconditional restoration of their jobs.

On election day, May 31, despite great odds, SITESABES won in two cities where it had campaigned and narrowly lost in a third. Although the overall statewide tally gave victory to the government-controlled union, the international observer team, which included representatives of the AFT national staff, NYSUT and the United Federation of Teachers of New York City, was impressed by the courage and commitment of SITESABES representatives and their justifiable pride in forcing authorities to hold Mexico's first secret-ballot union election.