The World - News from May 4, 1989

Mexico City’s government fired 23,000 city bus workers who went on strike and said it is drawing the line on raises for public employees. Bus drivers, mechanics and administrative workers walked out after public school teachers won concessions with a strike now in its third week. Teachers earn an average of about $1,700 a year, and the government has increased its offer of an 18% increase in wages and benefits to 25%. The federal labor mediation board declared the bus strike illegal after the workers rejected a 14% increase in wages and benefits. Representatives of the bus workers said they wanted pay increases of 50%. Bus employees earn about $9,000 a year, Notimex, the government news agency reported.