Catalan teachers announce strike for first day of school

Teachers in Catalonia are set to strike on September 8, the first day of the new school year, due to ongoing labor disputes and a lack of negotiation with the Department of Education. Iolanda Segura, spokesperson for the USTEC union, stated that the strike is “inevitable” because no contact has been made with the department since July 13.

While the strike is scheduled for the first day, the union warned that further industrial actions could occur throughout the first trimester if structural issues are not addressed. Key demands include reducing student-to-teacher ratios, increasing funding for inclusive education, and securing long-term stability for public school measures.

The Catalan government has previously announced measures such as expanding reception classrooms and adding health technicians to schools, but USTEC dismisses these as insufficient and merely part of existing agreements rather than new structural solutions.