For much of its history, the SNTE has been a corporatist union allied with the long-ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and has been accused of having government-appointed charro leaders and anti-democratic tendencies.

This resulted in a movement in the late 1970s and early 1980s in which sections from several states began demanding democratic reforms in the union structure.

The SNTE began to consolidate from 1939, with the formation of various regionalised trade guilds and unions that were adhering to the Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM), which in turn served as the labor sector of the PRI.

A former elected member of PRI, whilst also serving as general director of the Institute for Social Security and Services for State Workers (ISSSTE) from 1976 until 1979, he promoted trade unionism through regular strikes.

[5] After the election of Vicente Fox of the National Action Party (PAN) as president within the Alliance for Change, Gordillo became a personal friend and trusted adviser.

The effect of SNTE and PANAL in the 2006 general election contributed to Felipe Calderón's victory, allowing Gordillo to negotiate further quotas of power during his administration.

[5] With Gordillo under increasing attack during the 2012 elections, accused by successive governments of stopping the advance of education reforms, the SNTE tried to form an alliance with the PRI, but this fell apart.

[6][7] In a case laid out in court the next day by attorney general Jesús Murillo Karam, authorities alleged that although she claimed only to have earned 1.1m pesos (US$86,000) between 2009 and 2012, her expenditure included:[5] From its formation, the STNE has presented the idea of a single trade union representing all educational workers across the country.

[15][16] The union organisation and administration currently numbers over 53,000 workers, providing members with all services plus health and educational support.