Education issues in the Valencian Community have reached a new level: teachers and unions have announced their readiness to take radical measures if the authorities do not make concessions. The situation affects tens of thousands of families and could lead to major disruptions in the school system. The focus is on educators’ demands, who believe that their working conditions and salaries do not reflect the real workload and society’s expectations.
According to El Pais, the third strike of this academic year gathered thousands of participants in Valencia, Alicante, and Castellón. Organizers from STEPV, CSIF, CC OO, and UGT are calling for restoring lost purchasing power, reducing class sizes, cutting bureaucracy, reinstating cut positions, and improving infrastructure. Special emphasis is placed on protecting the use of the Valencian language in schools. Unions claim that by midday, 80% of staff had joined the strike, while authorities report a figure of 36%.
Demands and disagreements
Unions stress that if real negotiations do not start soon, the school year could end early in May due to an indefinite strike. Representatives of STEPV note they have been trying to open dialogue with the education department since September, but claim that authorities are merely dragging out the process. Their demands include not only higher salaries, but also better conditions for students, which unions say is directly linked to the quality of education.
The Valencia authorities, in turn, released their own figures: out of 71,150 teachers called to participate, 25,322 supported the strike, accounting for 35.59%. Among administrative staff, participation was even lower—13.18%. By province, the highest turnout was registered in Valencia (38.36%), followed by Castellón (35.05%) and Alicante (32.56%). Support was higher in primary and preschool institutions than in secondary schools.
Mass protests and slogans
Thousands of protesters gathered in central Valencia at Plaza San Agustín, with government estimates putting the number around 16,000. In Alicante, another 10,000 joined. Demonstrators carried signs calling for an end to cutbacks, better conditions, and increased resources. Slogans included demands for the authorities to stop stalling negotiations and to present concrete proposals. Union representatives noted that four out of five organizations on the sectoral council supported the strike and are prepared to take further action.
CC OO Secretary Xelo Valls criticized the authorities’ attempts to initiate dialogue, calling them formalities that bring no real solutions. CSIF Educación president José Seco highlighted two main demands: improving working conditions and increasing salaries, which have gone unadjusted for almost two decades. According to him, teachers expect concrete steps from the government, not just promises.
Consequences and outlook
If there is no progress, the unions are already preparing an indefinite strike that could begin in May. According to russpain.com, such actions could paralyze the work of most schools in the region and affect tens of thousands of families. Authorities expect participation rates may rise slightly by the evening, as some teachers work the second shift.
As El Pais notes, in recent months negotiations between the unions and the Department of Education have not yielded tangible results. UGT representatives emphasize that in half a year, the authorities have not proposed a single concrete measure, only postponing discussions. Recalling recent events, it is worth noting that similar protests in other regions of Spain have led to temporary class suspensions and mass street demonstrations. For example, last year in Andalucía, similar demands were discussed, and in Catalunya, teachers also took to the streets demanding a review of labor conditions.
In the context of ongoing protests in Valencia, it is important to note how labor disputes in other areas of Spanish public life can have significant consequences. For instance, recent court proceedings in Almería regarding masks, as reported in the investigative piece on contract agreements, also sparked widespread public reaction and influenced the region’s political situation.
Overall, the situation in the Valencian Community mirrors national trends: demands for better working conditions, fair pay, and reduced bureaucracy are becoming increasingly important for education professionals throughout Spain. In the coming weeks, attention will be focused on whether the parties can reach a compromise and avoid further escalation of the conflict.
