The unions CCOO, UGT, CGT, CNT, Solidaridad Obrera and STEM are calling for an indefinite strike in Madrid's public education starting Wednesday 14 October. CSIF will maintain strikes on the 14th, 15th, and 16th.
Non-university teachers in the Community of Madrid are called to an indefinite strike starting this Wednesday 14 October, as confirmed by the Ministry of Education, Science and Universities. The call, driven by CCOO, CGT, CNT, Solidaridad Obrera, STEM, and UGT, along with the platforms Dignified Special Education, Less Lective and We Want Vocational Training, has no end date.
In parallel, CSIF has called for a strike on 14, 15, and 16 October. The Minister of Education, Mercedes Zarzalejo, has assured that minimum services will be guaranteed: "In the case of this strike call, the first thing we have to guarantee are the minimum services, as education is an essential service".
The schedule starts on Wednesday 14 at 08:00 hours with informational pickets at educational centres across the region. At 10:00 there will be gatherings at various points and at 12:00 the demonstrators will meet at Puerta del Sol. On the same day, CSIF has called for a gathering at 12:00 in front of the Ministry of Education, on Alcalá street. The main demonstration will be at 18:00 with a route between Atocha and Sol.
On Thursday 15, the pickets will be repeated from 08:00. At 12:00 a human chain is planned in front of the Ministry of Education and in the afternoon assemblies and informational tables will be held. On Friday 16, teachers have called for an open assembly in Retiro Park at 12:00 and a second demonstration between Atocha and Puerta del Sol at 18:00.
The mobilisations have the support of platforms from Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) and Rey Juan Carlos University (URJC). In addition, the platforms of the six public universities in Madrid are preparing two days of university strikes for 4 and 5 November against the funding agreement signed with the regional Government.
Among the demands of the teaching staff are the reduction of teaching hours to 17 weekly periods in Secondary and Vocational Training and 22 in Primary, the reduction of the number of students per classroom, a salary increase of 600 euros per month in the regional specific supplement, the guarantee of specialised professionals in centres, and the incorporation of administrative staff to reduce bureaucratic burden. They also request a plan to improve school infrastructures that includes sustainable climate control.
The minister has stated that "it does not make much sense" for the unions that sit down to negotiate with the public administration to be on the street, and has reminded that those same unions negotiated last year "a series of agreements" that the Community of Madrid is "fulfilling". The mobilisations will vary depending on the evolution of the negotiations.
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