Protesting teachers block access to Gaudí monument Casa Batlló

Around 300 teachers on strike protested at the doors of the Casa Batlló in Barcelona, ​​on Passeig de Gràcia, on Tuesday morning, blocking access to the famous Gaudí monument.

The protest prevented Casa Batlló from opening its doors to visitors until around 1 pm. At that point, the teachers left and joined a larger protest in the city centre.

Casa Batlló are offering refunds to any visitor affected by the protest. 

The demonstrating educators arrived on foot from Plaça Urquinaona and set up tables and chairs in front of the entrance to the building.

This rally is part of the day of industrial action in the Barcelonès county, a protest that is maintained by the unions CGT, Intersindical, and COS, despite the preliminary agreement reached on Friday with other, majority unions.

The protesters are wearing yellow t-shirts and displaying banners with messages decrying that the public education system is in "danger."

At around 9.10am the protesters blocked Passeig de Gràcia at Carrer Aragó.

This is the 13th day of strike action in recent months. 

Pre-agreement

Last Friday, after weeks of strikes in the education sector, the government and majority unions, USTEC and Professors de Secundària (Secondary Teachers), reached a pre-agreement over their labour dispute in the eighth day of negotiations, which lasted the whole day last Friday.

However, the other unions, CGT, Intersindical and COS, left the negotiations because their demands were not included.

The agreement incorporates €50 more than the previous offer for the newly created supplement for all teachers.

In four years, this will rise to €173, which added to the 30% increase in the supplement agreed with CCOO and UGT in March as well as state increases, will let teachers earn about €600 gross per month more in four years.

The pre-agreement is going for consultation to union members this week.