Barcelona was the main focus on 27 May 2026 as thousands of teachers marched through the city, while protests also took place in Girona and Lleida. The demonstrations came hours before a scheduled meeting between Catalonia’s education department and unions over pay, staffing and resources for public education.
According to the Guàrdia Urbana, about 7,000 people joined the Barcelona march. Unions put the figure at 15,000. Earlier in the day, teachers also blocked the AP-7 motorway in Girona and Granollers, and the A2 in Lleida.
The march in Barcelona was organised by Ustec·Stes, Aspepc·Sps, CGT Ensenyament and La Intersindical. It began at 11am at Pla de Palau and ended at Plaça de les Drassanes. Protesters chanted slogans including, “Less police and more educators”, “Niubó, listen, the revolt is coming”, and “Mossos out of schools”.
Teachers also criticised other unions, with chants such as “For pacts and betrayals, CC.OO. and UGT”. Many wore yellow T-shirts, used whistles and drums, and called for more public education funding, according to Europa Press. More Catalonia news
The protests coincided with a new round of talks with the education department. Education Minister Esther Niubó has ruled out one of the main demands, a monthly salary increase of €400 to €500 for teachers. She told La2Cat and Ràdio 4 that recent discussions had helped “advance positions” and “establish trust”, and that an agreement with the striking majority unions was “much closer” than weeks earlier.
Union representatives said they wanted major progress in the meeting, including more staff. Ustec·Stes spokesperson Iolanda Segura said the department’s proposed supplement was not enough. Aspepc·Sps general secretary Ignasi Fernández said talks had returned to the “starting point” after the department acknowledged a debt to teachers, while CGT Ensenyament’s Laura Gené called the proposal “crumbs”. Laia Fonts of La Intersindical said unions were ready to challenge what she described as a delaying strategy.
After Tuesday’s meeting, the department proposed another linear supplement for tutor teachers and staff in highly complex centres. Niubó said this was meant to recognise an added pedagogical function. The outcome of the talks will shape whether unions accept the proposals and end further industrial action across Catalonia.
