Madrid teachers hold indefinite strike over education funding

Thousands of public school teachers in the Community of Madrid are engaged in an indefinite strike that began on October 14. Protesters, including students and parents, have held demonstrations in front of the regional Assembly to demand significant improvements to the public education system.

Key demands from the unions—including CCOO, UGT, CGT, STEM, and Solidaridad Obrera—include reducing weekly teaching hours to 17 in secondary education and 22 in primary education. Teachers are also calling for lower student-to-teacher ratios, increased salaries by 600 euros per month, more support for students with special needs, and a reduction in administrative bureaucracy.

The regional government, led by President Isabel Díaz Ayuso, has resisted these measures. Education Counselor Mercedes Zarzalejo stated that the administration will not negotiate certain demands, suggesting that the protests are being used as political tools to undermine the regional government. Tensions have escalated following comments by Ayuso, who referred to the protesters as a ‘coro rociero’ (flamenco chorus), a remark that demonstrators have since parodied in their marches.