Madrid education strike looms as about 200 rally at Complutense faculty
About 200 people rallied on 13 October at the Complutense University of Madrid's Faculty of Education, less than 24 hours before the education strike in the Community of Madrid begins. Forest firefighters and nursery educators joined the protest, which demanded funding, staffing and affordable housing.
About 200 students, teachers and staff gathered at the Faculty of Education of the Complutense University of Madrid on Tuesday, 13 October, alongside forest firefighters and nursery educators, two groups already in union disputes for months. The gathering took place less than 24 hours before the education strike in the Community of Madrid begins. The protesters demand more funding, more staff and affordable housing.
The regional education councillor, Mercedes Zarzalejo, asked families for calm and confidence and said minimum services would be guaranteed because education is an essential service. She said the right to strike is respected alongside the right to work of those who do not join it, and acknowledged that a 'hot autumn' was expected. She criticised the unions for sitting with the administration every two weeks at the teaching career table while also taking to the streets. The 23-year-old Social Education student Pepe Navarro said the faculty's concierge desk, which once had nine staff, now often has two because of absences, and that when staff retire no one fills their place. A 22-year-old Social Education student described a classroom leak that was not repaired during the previous academic year, and said rents near the campus are prohibitive. Complaints are directed at both the regional government and the Complutense administration.
