The morning in Barcelona began with an unexpected challenge for parents of young children and municipal kindergarten staff. Several dozen preschools across the city were inaccessible: front doors were locked, and the locks had been filled with silicone sealant. This was part of a protest organized by kindergarten workers who had called a strike.
As a result, many teachers who arrived for work couldn’t get inside. Parents rushing to drop off their children before the workday had to wait at the entrance for a solution. In some cases, staff attempted to enter through side or service doors, but this wasn’t possible everywhere.
According to city authorities, out of about thirty affected kindergartens, only a few were able to operate as usual. At the rest, they had to wait for specialists to remove the blocked locks. Teachers gathered at the entrances, informed parents about the situation, and asked them to wait until children could be admitted.
For many families, this day turned into a real ordeal. Parents had to urgently change their plans: some arranged for relatives to look after their child, others tried to work remotely, and some were simply late to their jobs. It was especially difficult for those who couldn’t quickly find an alternative to kindergarten.
In the institutions that did manage to open their doors, additional difficulties arose. Due to staff shortages and organizational disruptions, not all could provide children with their usual meals and care. Some groups missed lunch, and parents had to pick up their children earlier than usual.
According to city officials, almost half of employees who are not part of the minimum service staff joined the strike. This significantly affected the operation of the preschool system in Barcelona and sparked a wave of discussion among parents and educators.
Throughout the day, preschool representatives stayed in touch with families, promising to inform them when the situation normalized and children could return to their regular routines. However, for many, this day was a reminder of how vulnerable city services are during labor disputes.
