Catalonia’s main education union confirms a strike on September 8. Negotiations with the government have stalled. The dispute centers on working conditions, class sizes, and language policy.
The start of the new school year in Catalonia is set to coincide with a fresh wave of industrial action, as the education union Ustec confirmed that the strike planned for September 8 will go ahead. With just two weeks before classes resume, union spokesperson Iolanda Segura stated that the Department of Education has not responded to repeated calls to resume negotiations, raising the likelihood of further protests if no agreement is reached.
In recent weeks, the Catalan government has shifted its focus to discussions with school leaders and families, temporarily setting aside the ongoing labor dispute with teachers. According to Segura, this approach has left the core issues unresolved. She emphasized that the union has been waiting since June 13 for the authorities to accept their proposal for talks, warning that partial measures and limited agreements will not address the underlying crisis in the education sector.
Ustec has outlined several priorities for negotiation, including improvements to inclusive education, reduced student-to-teacher ratios, and stronger protections for the Catalan language in schools. The union is also demanding a clear timeline for implementing structural reforms, citing concerns such as extreme classroom temperatures that can reach up to 42 degrees Celsius. Segura argued that without a concrete plan, the dissatisfaction among education professionals is unlikely to subside.
During the first trimester of this year, the education sector in Catalonia saw 23 days of strike action. While some unions have accepted recent agreements with the government—such as the long-awaited update to the regional pay supplement, now set at 700 euros per month—Ustec maintains that these steps are insufficient. The union has repeatedly warned of its intention to continue mobilizing unless more substantial progress is made.
The Catalan government, for its part, has appealed for all parties to consider the right to education for children and has expressed willingness to use all available resources to resolve the situation. Government spokesperson Sílvia Paneque recently reiterated this commitment following the last executive council meeting before the summer break.
Labor disputes in the education sector are not unique to Catalonia. Across Spain, similar tensions have emerged in recent years, often centered on funding, staffing levels, and working conditions. The current standoff in Catalonia highlights the broader challenges facing regional administrations as they balance the demands of teachers, families, and policymakers. For context, debates over public services and infrastructure remain a recurring theme in Catalan politics, as seen in the government’s recent consideration of reintroducing tolls on the AP-7 motorway to address congestion issues—a topic explored in detail in this related report.
As the September 8 strike approaches, the risk of further disruption to the school calendar remains high unless negotiations resume. The outcome will likely set the tone for labor relations in Catalonia’s education sector for the coming academic year.
