The teachers' strike has caused traffic disruptions this Wednesday on the AP-7, the A-2, and several access roads to Tarragona, Girona, and Lleida, while more than 700 people have gathered in the central section of Rambla Nova in Tarragona, according to the Mossos d'Esquadra.
The protest coincided with an 8.43% turnout during the morning, with data from the Departament d'Educació collected in 33.17% of the centers at 9:30 AM. This gap between the official turnout figure and the impact of mobilizations on roads and in cities like Tarragona marked the day.
The AP-7 had disruptions from Altafulla to La Roca del Vallès
Traffic disruptions affected sections in Altafulla in both directions, El Vendrell towards the south, La Roca del Vallès in both directions, Vilablareix in the northbound direction, and Sant Julià de Ramis in the southbound direction.
Furthermore, traffic was also interrupted in Torredembarra, in Salt, and on the A-2 in Lleida, with diversions towards the A-2, the A-7, and the N-340. In Tarragona, the City Council had already warned of two demonstrations, one starting at 10:00 AM and another at 12:00 PM, both starting at the Monument als Herois de 1811.
The Servei Català de Trànsit reported the closure in Vila-seca at 10:49 AM and in Altafulla at 11:14 AM. Shortly after, traffic jams occurred on the N-340 from 11:18 AM and on the A-7 from 11:20 AM.
Unions reject the 40 euro bonus and will negotiate again this afternoon
The mobilization maintains pressure on the Departament d'Educació amid negotiations in the Sectoral Table. The convening unions find the proposal of a salary bonus of around 40 euros insufficient and demand a concrete calendar to compensate for the cut in "sexenios" (seniority-based salary increases) applied in 2012.
Alexis Auderset, coordinator of USTEC, cited ratios among the points pending clarification.
"One of the points to specify are the ratios" - Alexis Auderset, coordinator of USTEC
During the march in Tarragona, protesters chanted slogans such as "performing miracles is not in the curriculum" and "it's not teaching, it's survival." The protest is part of a sustained campaign throughout May that unions link to the defense of public education and the demand for improvements in conditions, resources, and curricula.
Next week there will be strikes in all demarcations
The calendar of mobilizations will continue next week with strikes in Girona and Central Catalonia on Monday, in Barcelonès on Tuesday, in Tarragona and Terres de l'Ebre on Wednesday, in Lleida, Alt Pirineu and Aran on Thursday, and throughout Catalonia on Friday.
Torredembarra will also host a day of activities promoted by teachers with round tables on inclusion, health, agriculture and housing, along with music and a popular meal.
The new meeting between the Department of Education and the unions is scheduled for this afternoon in the Sectoral Table.