Teachers' unions and the Catalan government met in Barcelona today to reopen negotiations, two months after an education pact divided unions and led to eight days of strikes. While some sources suggest a full reopening of the pact, others indicate discussions will explore improvements within the existing agreement signed on 9 March by the government, CC.OO., and UGT.
The meeting, chaired by Education Minister Esther Niubó, seeks to de-escalate the conflict before the academic year ends. Niubó expressed a desire for all striking unions to remain at the table, stating, "I believe the entire educational community, starting with families and teachers, deserves for us to be able to sit down and see how we can adjust positions."
Strike Action Continues
Following a strike on Tuesday with 35% teacher participation, yesterday's action, limited to Baix Llobregat and Penedès, saw reduced support at 21%. Organising unions, including Ustec, Professors de Secundària, CGT, and Intersindical, aimed to show strength in these initial days to bolster their position at the negotiating table. Today, centres in Girona and Central Catalonia are called to strike.
Protests yesterday also included road closures on the B-23 in Sant Joan Despí and the N-340 in Vilafranca del Penedès. The government enters negotiations with an already signed agreement and an approved budget. However, its position is delicate due to ongoing union pressure and the controversial infiltration of Mossos police into a teachers' assembly, for which an apology was issued yesterday.
Beyond Salary Demands
Significant differences remain between the government and unions. Unions initially stated they might call off the strike if the ministry committed to doubling the salary increase already offered, requesting an additional €400 per month. However, Ustec, the majority union, clarified yesterday that the dispute is not solely about salaries but also about inclusive education.
Patricia Morales of Ustec told reporters, "Many hands are needed: psycho-pedagogues, hearing and language teachers, special education teachers, education technicians, social integration technicians, educators, counsellors." Ustec plans to present a two-year inclusive education plan today, calling for "firm and planned steps" rather than "band-aids" to address the issue. This contrasts with the ministry's recent announcement of 500 to 600 new professionals, part of the agreement with CC.OO. and UGT.
Niubó announced yesterday on the TVE programme 'L'altaveu de La 2 Cat' that the meeting would focus on inclusive education, including more professionals, reception classrooms, and reduced class sizes. She stated, "There will be some new proposal." However, the department considers the unions' salary demands unfeasible, given that the 129,000-strong workforce has already received a 30% increase to their specific regional supplement, amounting to an additional €3,000 annually by the end of the agreement in 2029.
