Thousands of teachers and families protested in Barcelona yesterday, 14 June, over what they called an "educational emergency" in Catalonia. Organisers estimated 25,000 people attended the demonstration, while the Guàrdia Urbana put the figure at 7,000.
The march, the last of the current academic year, moved through the heart of Barcelona with slogans such as "We decide what is agreed", "Niubó resignation", and "Fighting is also educating". The most prominent banner read: "Let's stop the social and educational emergency."
Unions said this protest aimed to be a country-wide demonstration, pushing for a "grand agreement" on public education. However, yesterday's turnout was lower than a previous protest, which unions claimed drew 40,000 people (6,500 according to the Guàrdia Urbana).
Iolanda Segura, spokesperson for the Ustec union, reiterated that Catalonia faces "an unprecedented educational crisis, which forces us to put the need for structural changes on the table." The march started at Jardinets de Gràcia and ended at Plaça Catalunya, making it clear that disagreements extend beyond salary increases, which the government had already accepted.
Calls for Public Education Reform
Laura Gené, general secretary of education for the CGT union, stated that the current law "has failed" and called for meetings to "discover what has gone wrong." Gené demanded more public resources, considering the new budget allocations "insufficient." She added that the crisis "not only affects education; it is already an oil slick spreading across all public services."
Protesters called for a public education pact based on a model "worthy of the country." Gené spoke of an "educational emergency" and urged the government to negotiate. Ustec has declined to attend the last two meetings. Gené announced that unions are "willing to talk, if necessary all summer, to reach agreements." If no agreements are made, Gené warned: "We will meet again in the streets in autumn."
"Public, inclusive, and Catalan-language schooling is our main request in this united demonstration," Segura repeated, clarifying that the protest goes beyond salary issues. Demands also included better student-teacher ratios, classroom air conditioning, and professional dignity for teachers.
Conditions for Future Negotiations
Regarding future meetings with the Department of Education to resolve the conflict, the Ustec spokesperson set conditions. She made it clear yesterday that they would not return to the table "unless it is to open a negotiation; the meetings would be sterile if there is no willingness to rethink the model the country needs."
The Affac (Federated Associations of Students' Families of Catalonia) also joined the demonstration. Its president, Jordi de Carreras, also called for a grand agreement on public education, emphasising: "We need it." Families demand participation in government talks, stating: "We have rights, solutions, and proposals."
Marc Martorell, spokesperson for Intersindical, agreed with his teaching colleagues that this struggle now goes beyond salary battles or workplace improvements. "We are asking for a model that truly invests in education and is worthy of the country."
Yesterday's protest in Barcelona follows a school year marked by 23 days of strikes. Ustec, Intersindical, CGT, COS, and CNT unions remain in conflict. All of them reject the agreement offered by the Generalitat, which was signed by other unions, including CC.OO., UGT, and Professors de Secundària. Ustec conducted a vote among teachers, which also rejected the offer.
