The education unions ask for 500 euros more salary and 6,000 new reinforcements

BarcelonaNew meeting between the unions and the Department of Education ends without agreement, but with an insistence on continuing negotiations the next day. This Thursday, however, on the Government's table was the counter-proposal presented in a unified manner by the majority union USTEC, together with Secondary School Teachers – who did not attend – and the CGT. A document with which the union organizations ask Education to update salaries according to the CPI and to approve a progressive supplement for the entire collective so that, in 2029, teachers will earn 478 euros more per month and secondary school teachers, 544 euros more.

Regarding the system's conditions, the counter-proposal calls for an agreement to increase staffing by 6,400 new positions. Although it does not appear in the document they sent to the Department of Education, USTEC and CGT have insisted that this reinforcement would be primarily aimed at improving inclusive education. Despite being a proposal that far exceeds the one presented by Esther Niubó's ministry on Wednesday, it is very similar to the demands that the unions had already made in November.

Once the counter-proposal was presented, this Thursday's meeting lasted just over two hours – this time with no recess –, but one of the unions left before the conversation was over. At the end of the meeting, the secretary for educational improvement, Ignasi Giménez, explained that they had been presented with a document that the Government believes is a "maximum proposal". "We understand that the proposal has interesting elements, but we need to analyze it," he assured. He also admitted that the economic impact of what the unions are demanding is difficult for the Department of Education to assume, but that he is "optimistic" regarding the dialogue. Although Giménez did not want to elaborate, the CGT union explained that the Government indicated to them that the unions' counter-proposal would have a cost of 1 billion euros.

the commitment that teachers earn 3,000 euros gross more per yearBefore the meeting with Education ended, CGT and La Intersindical got up from the table, while emphasizing that they are in no way breaking off negotiations. Laura Estapé, from CGT, explained that the department told them that, given the cost of 1,000 million euros that the counterproposal would entail, the unions would have to prioritize demands. "We have replied that they should tell us how much money is available. If they have done it for the Mossos, they can do it for the education of this country", she assured.

reform of the baccalaureate curriculum to avoid the fusion of sciencesSalary, school trips and curricula

Regarding the details of the counter-proposal that the unions sent to the Department of Education this Thursday, in the salary area, the Government is required to ensure that the increase from the allowances that had been proposed affects teachers globally –both primary school teachers and secondary school teachers–, that it is staggered, and that it starts to be paid from the next academic year. On the other hand, Education planned to offer the option to improve –without clarifying in what terms– the payment of tutoring, co-tutoring, and teachers in centers of maximum complexity allowances, but the unions insist that the salary improvement must be for all teachers, without being linked to any position.

Specifically, the unions want this very year for the generalized salary increase to be 6% and to be 4% for the following three years (4% in 2027, 4% in 2028, and 4% in 2029). For now, Education's offer consists of concentrating into three years –and not four, as initially agreed– the commitment for teachers to earn 3,000 gross euros more per year. This figure would represent an increase of approximately 200 gross euros per month. And still within the group of pay raises, the unions also request that school trips be paid as overtime and with a supplement for night work.

In the document, which ARA has had access to, improvements in system resources and conditions, as well as in the curriculum, are also demanded. In the first case, they call for a review of ratios and for no public school to be closed, as well as for an agreement to be reached to increase staffing by 6,400 new positions. In this section, the Government had put forward 2,500 new staff for all of education, half of whom would go to strengthen inclusive education; a figure very far from what the unions aspire to.

Regarding curricula, the unions request that they be clear and structured and that they always be negotiated –including changes– between the administration and the centers. They also want Education to stop the controversial reform of the baccalaureate curriculum to prevent the fusion of sciences and establish a timetable for subjects agreed upon with professionals. Furthermore, they have also conveyed the need to review some aspects of the basic education decree.