Thousands of teachers protest across Catalonia in one-day strike

Thousands of teachers took to the streets across Catalonia on Wednesday as part of a one-day strike to demand better working conditions and higher pay.

In Barcelona, a march began at Jardinets de Gràcia and ended at the Department of Education on Via Augusta. 

Local police said around 25,000 people joined the demonstration, while the unions estimated participation at 70,000. 

Union leaders called on the Department of Education and the Catalan government to "take action" in response to what they described as a "historic" mobilization.

USTEC spokesperson Iolanda Segura warned that the school year would "not end normally" if an agreement is not reached.

Protests took place across Catalonia, including a demonstration in Girona with 12,000 participants and marches in Tarragona and Lleida, each drawing around 5,000 people.

Roads blocked

Teachers blocked several major roads across Catalonia on Wednesday morning as part of the strike.

Protests began around 7am, with demonstrators staging roadblocks in Barcelona and other cities.

In the Catalan capital, teachers blocked both directions of the Ronda Litoral near Vila Olímpica for about 45 minutes. Disruptions were also reported on Gran Via at La Campana, the Ronda de Dalt and Avinguda Meridiana.

In the coastal city of Mataró, protesters blocked the C-32 motorway southbound towards Barcelona for half an hour.

In the Girona region, the N-II at Vilamalla and the southbound exits of Figueres and Girona on the AP-7 were affected.

Shortly before 10am, the Catalan Traffic Service said no roads remained closed.

Further blockades took place on the C-55 in Manresa and Olesa de Montserrat, the C-59 in Moià, the C-31 in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, the C-58 in Sant Quirze del Vallès and the C-37 in Valls, as well as on the N-141c in Moià and the C-31 in Verges.

Tensions flared between protesters and Catalan police, the Mossos d'Esquadra, during the blockades on both the Ronda Litoral and the C-32 before demonstrators succeeded in stopping traffic.

One-day strike

The protests are part of a one-day strike called by education unions on Wednesday to press for labour, pay and policy improvements.

Key demands include higher salaries, reduced class sizes and increased funding for inclusive education.

The strike was called by several unions: USTEC, Professors de Secundària (aspec.sps), CCOO, CGT and UGT.

They argue that teachers have lost more than 20% of their purchasing power over the past decade.

The Department of Education says it has a proposal ready to improve a specific salary supplement, but that it is conditional on Parliament passing the 2026 budget.

Unions warn they could stage a week-long strike in March if negotiations fail to progress.

 

Department proposal

Education official Ignasi Giménez said on Wednesday he hopes a proposal to be presented to the unions at a February 19 meeting could mark a "turning point" toward an agreement.

The plan includes a salary supplement increase, though the exact amount has not been disclosed. Giménez acknowledged that the raise alone won't solve a situation "untouched for 20 years," but said it is a first step.

He also stressed the government's commitment to strengthening inclusive education, while noting that moving forward with measures depends on budget approval in Parliament.