Unions and teaching platforms denounce high ratios, excessive teaching hours, and underfunding. The strike begins this Wednesday and also affects public universities.
The public education system in the Community of Madrid begins an indefinite strike this Wednesday, the first general strike in almost 40 years, according to publico.es. The call is supported by CCOO, CGT, CNT, Solidaridad Obrera, STEM, and UGT, along with the platforms Dignified Special Education, Fewer Teaching Hours, and We Want Vocational Training.
The assembly movement Fewer Teaching Hours points out that an indefinite strike of this nature has not occurred since 1988, when the protest lasted several weeks but did not take this format. The spokesperson for the platform, Ana Vicenti, emphasises that this is the first strike called in a united manner by the majority of unions.
This is the first indefinite strike of this kind,” says Ana Vicenti from Fewer Teaching Hours.
The organisers denounce a lack of negotiation from the Ministry of Education, underfunding, and the deterioration of public education. Vicenti points out that the Community of Madrid has some of the highest ratios and a large number of teaching hours, which reduces the time available for preparing classes or coordinating with families.
We have fewer hours to prepare our classes, coordinate with colleagues, or with families,” laments the spokesperson.
The strike also affects higher education. Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) and Rey Juan Carlos University (URJC) are joining the day to demand improvements in funding. Montserrat Rius, spokesperson for UCM for the Public, explains that there is a lack of hiring of teaching staff and administrative and service personnel, which prevents offering more places.
We lack funding,” declares Rius.
From the student union Contracorriente, Bie criticises the “brutal privatisation attack” by Isabel Díaz Ayuso with the LESUC, the regional university law, and warns that she is now trying to apply the same policy through the budgets.
The strike begins this Wednesday and will continue indefinitely. The unions have called for a demonstration in Madrid, the time and route of which will be confirmed in the coming hours.
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