Ensenada firefighters gathered outside their station at Calle Novena and Espinoza on Monday, May 18, demanding a salary increase from municipal officials. The demonstration came after firefighters said their current pay is barely on par with Mexico’s minimum wage, which stands at 278.80 pesos per day (about $14 USD) in 2026.
Fernando Peralta, a first-line firefighter, confirmed that the group held a meeting with city officials including the Oficial Mayor, the municipal administrator responsible for human resources and internal operations. Peralta said firefighters used the meeting to press their case for higher wages.
A Pattern of Pay Disputes in Ensenada
The protest is not an isolated incident. In August 2025, Ensenada police officers and firefighters blocked Avenida Reforma to protest excessive paycheck deductions they said exceeded legal limits set by Mexico’s SAT (Servicio de Administración Tributaria), the country’s tax authority. At that time, retirees also complained about improperly taxed pensions and years-long delays in receiving benefits.
Monday’s action focused specifically on base pay. Mexico’s minimum wage has risen sharply in recent years through federal policy, but municipal firefighter salaries in Ensenada have apparently not kept pace. Firefighters earning at or near the minimum wage would take home roughly 8,364 pesos per month (about $420 USD), a figure that falls well below the cost of living in a border city where prices for housing, food, and fuel are influenced by proximity to the United States.
What Comes Next
The firefighters have not announced a work stoppage or threatened to reduce service. Their strategy so far has centered on public demonstrations and direct meetings with municipal leadership. No public response from Mayor Claudia Agatón’s administration was reported as of Monday evening.
Ensenada’s fire department serves a metropolitan area of roughly 500,000 residents. The city also draws large numbers of visitors and supports a growing expat community, particularly in areas like El Sauzal, Chapultepec, and the wine country of the Valle de Guadalupe. Any staffing shortages or morale problems in the department could affect emergency response times across the region, particularly as summer wildfire and hurricane season approaches.
The wage dispute follows a broader trend of public employee protests in Baja California municipalities, where teachers, police, and emergency workers have staged demonstrations in recent months over pay and working conditions.
This story was first reported by Zeta Tijuana.