In Catalonia, the government has offered teachers a new monthly pay supplement of up to €40 as unions continue negotiations and strike action takes place across the region, including Lleida.
The fifth sectoral meeting on Education and Vocational Training ended without a full agreement between the Generalitat and the unions, although both sides said there had been progress on working conditions for teaching staff. Education Minister Sílvia Paneque proposed a linear salary supplement for all teachers, with a total cost of €78.67 million, which would mean between €35 and €40 a month, according to the unions and the government.
The Education department also said it was willing to compensate unpaid sexennis, the seniority bonuses, and to shorten the rollout period for the specific complement increase from four years to three. Those points are still under discussion. For background on the wider education coverage, see our news tag page.
Negotiations are due to continue today, alongside an education strike across Catalonia. Paneque said she was confident a definitive agreement could be reached in the coming days or weeks, and said the talks were still open. She also said the meeting time was changed from 12pm to 5.30pm because of unforeseen agenda issues.
Paneque defended the government's position, saying the measures show a commitment to strengthen the system. She pointed to the ongoing incorporation of 1,787 new teaching and educational support staff positions. The government also said the Executive Council approved an expansion of Education department staff for the next academic year, with 1,068 new teachers and 719 administrative and services staff and educational support staff.
Teachers across Catalonia were called to strike today. In Lleida, a demonstration is planned to start at 9.30am at the Official Language School (EOI) and continue to Alba school, where teachers will gather at 11am, as is usual on strike days. Around 30 teachers from subsidised private schools are also expected to join a demonstration in Barcelona, where they are calling for the same conditions as in public education.
Joel Jové, a teacher at Col·legi Episcopal, said the group is asking for equal teaching hours, a two-hour reduction for teachers over 55, and better conditions for administrative staff and nursery school workers. The government said the new public education posts include roles aimed at lowering student-to-teacher ratios, supporting inclusive education, and expanding Vocational Training. It said the investment in these incorporations is €93.5 million.