In Catalonia, the Digital Coordinators of Catalonia in Struggle platform has rejected a preliminary agreement reached on 29 May between the Education Department and the main unions, USTEC and Professors de Secundària. The group said teachers should vote against the proposal in the upcoming consultation.
The platform said its demands were not included in the deal, which is expected to go to a teacher vote this weekend. It added that the Education Department had initially included a proposal to improve digital coordinators’ pay conditions, but that this was removed from negotiations within 24 hours without objection from any signatory unions.
The group said this showed a lack of recognition for work it describes as essential to the running of educational centres. In a social media post, it said the collective’s work is not properly recognised, especially in financial terms.
Digital coordinators handle IT tasks, equipment supervision and software in Catalan schools. The group said they often work outside regular hours and are given more responsibilities by the department. It added that the dedication required is similar to a management role, but the hours available are insufficient and the pay can be symbolic or non-existent in some cases.
The preliminary agreement now awaits a vote from all teachers. The platform’s call for a no vote could affect the outcome and push for further talks on its specific concerns. For more Catalonia education coverage, see our news tag page.