The unions and the Conselleria d’Educació also did not reach a preliminary agreement today to end the teachers’ strike, after the sixth meeting and ten days of strike, the fourth involving all centers in Catalonia. The Government has informed the teachers’ representatives that it needs more time to finish evaluating the economic proposal and has asked them to continue working tomorrow.
Additionally, the Government says it also has to assess which issues currently on the negotiation table are already covered by the agreement and which are not, and has committed to bringing documents on all these matters tomorrow and explaining the specifics requested by the unions to continue making progress.
The unions have negotiated with the support of the teachers’ protest demonstrations this month and with the prospect of those still scheduled for next week.
Although the strike participation rate and the number of demonstrators have declined, the pressure on the streets has continued. The participation rate, with more than 89.74% of centers surveyed, was 28.74% this Wednesday. The public families’ association (Affac) and the school administrations (half of them), upset by the reduction of targeted positions, had also supported the teachers in their demands.
This was the fourth day of educational strike involving all Catalan centers, adding to the territorial strikes. In total, since May 7, ten stoppages have been called.
Thousands of teachers participated this Wednesday in marches organized throughout the community, blocking six roads. The Ronda de Litoral in Barcelona, in both directions, and several sections of the AP-7, from Girona, Granollers, Torredembarra, and Tarragona. Also the A-2 in Lleida. The intention was to maintain the blockades during the negotiation to pressure the Government to sign an agreement.
On the other hand, today was the sixth meeting of the sectoral table. Since the first, both parties agreed to accelerate negotiations and meet almost daily (respecting school holidays). Educació presented a more relaxed schedule, but the organizations not signing the educational pact decided to intensify it.
In Tuesday’s meeting, the Government made a move and changed its offer. Until now, the Department of Educació and FP proposed paying for greater effort by offering higher remuneration to tutors and coordinators, as well as to teachers in high-complexity centers. This implied increases for 60% of the staff. The unions dug in their heels for a linear increase of 478 euros more per month for teachers and 544 for professors.
Finally, Educació agreed to a linear raise that included payment of the regional supplement over three years and a unique supplement for the entire staff of 35.50 euros per month. The meeting ended without an agreement but with greater satisfaction from both parties.
