Thousands of teachers gathered in Barcelona's Sant Jaume Square on Thursday, 12 May 2026, during a strike that saw them march through the city centre, demanding improved working conditions and a new salary proposal from the Catalan government.
Organisers estimated 80,000 people participated in the protest, which started at Plaça Urquinaona at 12:30 and ended in front of the Palau de la Generalitat. The Department of Education, however, reported a 32% strike participation rate among staff, based on data from 85% of schools, while unions claimed up to 70% participation.
Iolanda Segura, spokesperson for the USTEC union, addressed the demonstrators, reiterating calls for lower student-to-teacher ratios across all educational stages. She warned the government that strikes would continue if demands were not met, directly addressing President Salvador Illa: "Illa, stop making a fool of yourselves, either negotiation or resignation."
Demands for New Salary Offer and Role Clarity
Segura also demanded a new salary proposal for the upcoming negotiation meeting scheduled for Thursday. "We will go to the table on Thursday, but, minister, bring your homework done, bring a new salary increase proposal," she stated.
Ignasi Fernández, representing the Professors de Secundària union, criticised the expanded roles teachers are expected to take on. He stated that teachers in Catalonia do not want to be "police, psychologists, or security guards," adding, "What we want is to teach as teachers and be paid as teachers."
Demonstrators chanted "Parlon, resignation" and "We are teachers, not delinquents," in reference to Núria Parlon, the Minister of Interior. This came after reports of Mossos d'Esquadra police infiltrating a teachers' assembly.
Government Defends Investment and Rejects Minister's Removal
Sílvia Paneque, the government spokesperson, addressed the infiltration incident, stating that Minister Parlon would provide explanations regarding the proportionality of the police presence. Paneque denied any political order behind the action, placing the institutional response with the Interior Ministry.
Paneque also reiterated the government's confidence in Josep Lluís Trapero, the director general of the Mossos, dismissing calls for his dismissal. She urged teachers to adopt a "principle of reality" regarding educational investment, highlighting the 2 billion euros allocated to education following a decade of underinvestment. According to Paneque, this investment has led to improvements in ratios, inclusion, bureaucracy, and salaries.
She maintained that the agreement signed with CCOO and UGT unions includes "very important measures for Catalan public education," covering salaries, bureaucracy reduction, and resources for inclusive schooling. Paneque emphasised that the 2 billion euro allocation is "historic" and that a decade of underinvestment cannot be reversed overnight.
Unions also called on families to support the protest, reminding them of their role within the school community. "You are also an educational community, we need you by our side," a union statement said. The boycott of school trips, announced by hundreds of schools, received applause in Sant Jaume Square, with Professors de Secundària stating, "We are not a free travel agency," referring to the unpaid work teachers do on these outings.
The upcoming meeting between the Department of Education and the unions on Thursday will use the existing pact, which includes the 2 billion euro allocation, as its reference point, according to Paneque. The outcome of this meeting will determine the next steps in the ongoing dispute.
