Education unions occupied the Department of Education in Barcelona on 28 May, pressing Minister Esther Niubó to attend talks in person as negotiations over pay and staffing continued.
The action came after hours of talks that, according to the unions, ended without enough progress to unblock the dispute. The unions said the government’s latest proposal still falls short and does not set out clear answers to the demands of teaching staff.
On pay, the ministry said its latest offer, which Niubó had described earlier in the day as definitive, includes a gross monthly rise of almost €400 over four years. The unions disputed that figure, saying it includes a state-level increase that teachers would receive anyway. The government said the Generalitat would take on that state complement and could decide whether to apply it.
On staffing, the government proposed adding 1,631 new teachers in each academic year of 2027-2028 and 2028-2029, after 1,787 had already been approved for the coming year. It also plans 1,983 more teachers for 2029-2030, which would total 7,032 new posts over four years. The proposal says these are indicative forecasts and may be updated each year before the academic year begins.
The occupation took place on the eleventh day of education strikes, which on 28 May affected schools in Maresme, Vallès Oriental and Vallès Occidental. The day also saw road closures and street protests across Catalonia.
Six more strike days are scheduled, including 29 May and the following week. Two of those will affect schools in Barcelona, including a territorial strike for schools in the Barcelona Education Consortium and the Barcelonès area on 2 June. The final strike, covering schools across Catalonia, is set for 5 June. More Catalonia news