Nursery school workers across Catalonia started a month of education strikes on Thursday, 7 May 2026, calling for more resources and lower student-to-staff ratios. The strike, organised by Plataforma 0-3 in Catalonia, is part of a national movement.
The workers consider the 0-3 age range an "essential" educational stage. They are also demanding better pay, equal working conditions compared to other educational stages, improvements in occupational health, and professional recognition. Demonstrations were planned for midday in Barcelona, Lleida, Tarragona, and Girona as part of the strike action.
Further Strikes Planned
Following this initial stoppage, strikes will begin in primary and secondary schools and institutes next Tuesday with a first day of action across all of Catalonia. A series of further strikes will then take place by territory, alongside two more full-Catalonia strike days, and another 0-3 sector stoppage on 20 May. Each territory is set to experience five strike days in total, including the three national days and two specific to their area.
USTEC, Professors de Secundària, CGT, and Intersindical are the unions calling for these strikes. The first three unions are part of the sectorial negotiation table but did not sign the agreement reached in March between the Catalan government, CCOO, and UGT, deeming it insufficient.
Since then, the striking unions have urged the Department of Education to return to the negotiation table to go beyond the existing agreement. However, officials from the department have stated their willingness to talk, but only within the scope of the agreement already signed.
