Families of public school students in Catalonia have publicly supported striking teachers, urging the government to address their demands. The largest association of public school families, Affac (Federated Associations of Students' Families of Catalonia), sent an open letter to Education Minister Esther Niubó, highlighting the “systemic precarity of public schooling” and calling for negotiations with “real political will and concrete commitments,” according to Affac.
Affac represents 2,400 associations from public schools and institutes. In the letter, signed by its director Jordi de Carreras, the organisation states that inclusive education is not a “future aspiration” but a “real right” currently not guaranteed due to a lack of resources and an inadequate model for co-teaching and diversity support. The letter also notes that teachers are mobilising for more than just their working conditions, asserting that the street protests are not a matter of “public order.”
Police Presence Criticised
Regarding recent controversies involving the Mossos d’Esquadra, families consider the police presence in educational spaces and protest-related assemblies “especially serious.” Affac added that “police presence in teachers' assemblies is incompatible with a democratic conception of education and sends a deeply worrying message: that organising and defending rights can be considered suspicious or prosecutable.” This letter provides support for unions leading the protests, including Ustec, Professors de Secundària, CGT, and Intersindical, at a sensitive time.
While protests remain visible, participation has decreased since March. Territorial strike participation fell from 32-38% in March to 18-21% in May. A Catalonia-wide strike saw 44% participation in March, dropping to 35% last week. On Monday, a strike called for Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Badalona, Sant Adrià del Besòs, and Santa Coloma de Gramenet was supported by 21% of staff, down from 32% in March.
Protests Continue Across Catalonia
The demonstration on Monday, which took place during heavy rain, started at 12pm in Jardinets de Gràcia and ended outside the Education Department on Vía Augusta, attracting 1,800 professionals. Earlier, teachers moved desks and chairs from La Sedeta school in front of the Sagrada Familia, blocking tourist entry from 9am to 11am. La Sedeta school teaches about the political system through its 6th grade project “I will be president,” where students negotiate the investiture of a president and form a government, giving them a direct view of current political events.
Members of the Catalan Parliament have received a letter from the majority union Ustec, appealing to their conscience and asking them to link the Generalitat's budget to teachers' demands. Over the weekend, the union made the same request to ERC and Comuns, parties set to support the budget. These parties, critical of the government's handling of the crisis, responded evasively, stating that resolving the conflict is not budget-related or that the new budget would remove government excuses for an agreement.
Upcoming Negotiations and Strikes
Meanwhile, the Education Department has called unions to a sectorial meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, promising a new proposal. A shorter timeline for salary increases, currently planned over four years, and the return of 'sexenios' (seniority pay) could be discussed. Today, teachers from Maresme and Vallès Occidental and Oriental are called to strike, with concentrations in Granollers and La Roca del Vallès. Tomorrow, early childhood educators (0-3 years) will strike, followed by Tarragona and Terres de l'Ebre on Thursday. A new Catalonia-wide strike is planned for Wednesday, 27 May.
