The unions Ustec, Professors de Secundària, CGT and Intersindical have called for 17 days of strike in Catalan public education to demand salary increases, more resources for inclusion plans, and a reduction in bureaucracy. The Minister of Education, Esther Niubó, has summoned the unions to a new meeting this Thursday, at the start of a schedule that will last until June 5.
The call comes after these four organizations rejected the agreement that CCOO and UGT signed with the Government, which included an annual salary increase of 3,000 euros and 50 euros per night for colony days. The gap between the two positions was already seen on the first day of the cycle, with a 32% follow-up for the Department of Education and 70% for the conveners.
The strikes will distribute 17 days across territories and levels until June 5
The protest plan foresees five days of work stoppage per center in less than a month, in addition to two additional days for the zero to three years stage. The unions have distributed the stoppages by territories and educational levels, with three general strikes and a series of regional calls.
The general days are set for May 12, May 27, and June 5. Between May 13 and June 4, there will also be territorial strikes in Baix Llobregat, Penedès, Girona, Catalunya Central, Lleida, Alt Pirineu i Aran, Barcelona, Vallès Occidental, Vallès Oriental, Maresme, and Tarragona and Terres de l'Ebre.
The Generalitat de Catalunya has imposed minimum services throughout the affected network. In preschool, primary, and secondary education, there must be one teacher per three classrooms and at least one member of the management team in each center.
There will also be 50% of the staff in special education, 33% in nursery schools, and half of the staff for dining rooms, kitchens, reception, extracurricular activities, and support for students with special educational needs.
The first protest showed opposing figures for follow-up and attendance in Barcelona
The discrepancy between the administration and the conveners also moved to the streets. In the unitary demonstration held in Barcelona, 80,000 people participated, according to the unions, compared to the 26,000 counted by the Guàrdia Urbana.
During the mobilization, the unions directed a direct appeal to families to broaden support for the protests.
"You are also an educational community, we need you by our side" - convening unions, message to families
Apart from the strike calendar, the conveners have opened another avenue of pressure on a usual activity of the centers. A thousand schools and institutes have joined the campaign to reject overnight trips and colonies next school year until structural changes in the public education system arrive.
That agreement, which the four unions reject, contemplated a raise of 3,000 euros per year and 50 euros per night for the days of colonies.