Around 1,800 teachers marched through Barcelona on Monday, 18 May, from Jardinets de Gràcia to the Generalitat's Ministry of Education and Vocational Training on Via Augusta. They were demanding better working conditions and salaries in education, according to the Guàrdia Urbana.

The demonstration, called by Ustec·Stes, Aspepc·Sps, CGT Ensenyament, and La Intersindical, marked the fifth day of a territorialised education strike. Monday's action focused on the Barcelona Education Consortium and the Barcelonès area.

Despite continuous rain, the march began at 12:35pm. Teachers chanted slogans such as "Listen Niubó, we want a better salary" and "Niubó, listen, this is a revolt." Their main banner read: "Enough is enough, labour improvements now."

Demands and Criticisms

The procession moved along Diagonal Avenue and up Aribau Street to Via Augusta. They paused outside the Menéndez y Pelayo Institute, where some teachers supported the mobilisation from windows with their own banners. The march then continued to the Ministry building, with chants including "Listen Dalmau, your peace is over," "We want more staff, Illa, Illa, Illa," "This is not an agreement, it's a betrayal," and "Fighting, fighting, we are also educating."

Teachers also criticised the agreement reached between the Catalan government and unions CC.OO. Educació and UGT. They chanted, "CC.OO. and UGT, PSC unions" and "CC.OO. and UGT, you are scabs." Upon reaching the Ministry, which was cordoned off by Mossos d'Esquadra officers, they continued with slogans like "Not one step back" and "Niubó, Niubó, this is not inclusion." They remained concentrated outside the building, with umbrellas and whistles, until 1:45pm.

Budgetary Pressure

Before the demonstration started, Iolanda Segura, spokesperson for Ustec·Stes, told reporters that the protest was happening during the Generalitat's budget approval process. She called this a "critical" time that should "value this struggle and place education as a red line."

Ignasi Fernández, general secretary of Aspepc·Sps, said they were protesting to recover lost purchasing power, address outstanding sexenio payments, and other demands. He criticised the government for being "irresponsible." Ingrid Chavarria of CGT Ensenyament urged parliamentary groups that support public education to "pressure for educational budgets instead of repressive budgets."

Marc Martorell of La Intersindical criticised the "hypocrisy" of groups that had supported teachers' demands for months but now appeared ready to back the proposed budgets. The unions are pushing for significant changes in the upcoming budget to address their long-standing grievances.