"It will be very disputed": teachers reveal today if they accept the pre-agreement with Education or maintain the strikes

BarcelonaThe day has arrived. After 72 hours of voting, teachers will reveal this midday whether they accept the agreement of the majority unions and Education or if, on the contrary, they maintain the strikes called until the end of the school year, starting with the unified one called for this Friday. The unions will make public from 12 noon the results of the consultation that was launched on Monday and, according to USTEC, the forecast is that they will be quite close. "We believe that it will be quite disputed. [The results] will be fifty-fifty, but we don't know which way they will be leaning," stated Iolanda Segura, spokesperson for the majority union and signatory, along with Secondary Teachers, of the pact with the Government, in statements to SER Catalunya.

agreed Education only with CCOO and UGTagreed only with CCOO and UGT.

The spokesperson stated that in recent days she has been able to perceive that initially there was a "reactionary" and "impulsive" vote against the new pre-agreement, which CGT, Intersindical and COS oppose. But she also highlighted that this Wednesday was the day of "most participation", which according to her could indicate the activation of a more "reflective" vote. She also explained that in recent hours teachers have called them asking for a change of vote, which – she clarified – is not possible.

Regarding those opposed to the pact, which foresees a gross monthly salary increase of 450 euros over four years, Segura has identified "various complaints": from those who "want everything now" to "people who say that ratios were discussed little" or who do not see the salary review clearly. "The no makes a lot of noise and the yes does not make so much, and therefore we do not know its volume," she said, and insisted again on the close call of the results.

In case the teachers finally approve the preliminary agreement, USTEC warns that it will not mean "social peace", but it will allow to consolidate and, if necessary, improve the "gains" achieved in the negotiation, such as the hiring of 6,400 professionals for inclusive schools agreed with Education. In case the "no" wins, the union has proposed to move towards an indefinite strike like the one in the Valencian Country, a scenario that organizations like CGT – which have maintained punctual and territorialized mobilizations this week – do not look favorably upon.

6,400 allocations and 4,500 euros

The pre-agreement that last Friday the unions USTEC, Professors de Secundària, CCOO and UGT reached with the Minister of Education Esther Niubó —and that CGT, Intersindical and COS rejected, maintaining protests this week— had two key points: a salary increase and an increase in resources, especially to strengthen inclusive education. Regarding salaries, it has been agreed that in the next four years teachers will earn 600 euros gross per month more (around 170 correspond to a state increase and the rest depend on Catalan investment). In fact, the 50 euro increase in this offer was the main breakthrough to reach an agreement last week. Still regarding the remuneration aspect, they also agreed to compensate for the debt of the stadiums, an almost historic demand from the unions, which will mean an investment of around 300 million euros.

Regarding resources —the "more staff" that teachers have not tired of demanding in the streets—, the Government and unions agreed to introduce 6,400 new resources into the system in the next four years. These reinforcements will be mainly aimed at profiles such as integration specialists and social educators, special education specialists, or speech therapists.

On the other hand, a call for 5,000 secondary professorship positions has also been approved between the years 2027 and 2028.