In Valencia, thousands of teachers and professors marched through the city centre on 29 May as an indefinite strike entered its 13th day. The protest began in Plaça de Sant Agustí and headed towards the regional education department, the Conselleria d’Educació, while negotiations continued.
The demonstration caused disruption in central Valencia and came after two unions, CSIF and ANPE, said they would suspend their involvement in the strike from that day. They said they would focus on talks with the Conselleria d’Educació, although CSIF said the move did not amount to a “blank cheque” and that protests could resume if no further improvements were agreed.
CSIF said the pressure from the strike had led the Conselleria to put forward a salary increase of €200 a month, linked to the Consumer Price Index (IPC), on the regional supplement. The offer also includes six days of personal leave and the start of regulations for remote working. CSIF and ANPE signed the partial agreement, describing it as a “historic milestone” and a pay recognition for teachers not seen in decades.
Other unions at the sectoral bargaining table, including STEPV, CCOO and UGT, said the measures were not enough. Pau Pons, of the STEPV national secretariat, urged teachers to keep mobilising and criticised the way the Conselleria has handled the talks. He said teachers had the chance to return to the streets and show the department and the Generalitat that they reject its approach to negotiations.
Francesc Gallo, head of Education for CCOO, said the protest was meant to make the Conselleria “take us seriously” and accused the minister of making a mockery of teachers, students, families and public education. Kilian Cuerda, a UGT delegate, said teachers remained mobilised “en masse” and accused the Education Department of changing agreements after negotiation meetings.
Cuerda also said teachers would not accept “crumbs, deceptions, or disrespect”, and pointed to a €121 million cut from the Edificant plan, saying many centres were still abandoned. Organisers said the mobilisation still had broad support and warned that more action would follow if there was no concrete progress in the coming weeks. For more local coverage, see our news page.