Two forms of syndicalism in Mexico public sector under an authoritarian government (2012-2018): Social security union and Oaxacan section of workers education national union

The purpose of this article is to analyze the forms of trade unionism deployed by Mexican public sector unions during the 2012-2018 presidential term of the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) [Institutional Revolutionary Party]. Throughout the PRI's 71 consecutive years in government, the party established corporatist relationships with trade unions that would prove to be fundamental for maintaining its rule. Following a 12-year period out of power, the PRI resumed control of the country in 2012. For the purposes of our research, we compare two contrasting cases that reveal the different links between trade unions and the PRI, showing how organizational forms and specific types of union subjectivity among members led to particular kinds of trade unionism. To be precise, the social security worker union applied a model of flexible corporatism adapted to the political system, while the Oaxacan section of education workers developed a social movement unionism.