Catalan teachers' unions stage sit-in at Education Department as seventh round of talks collapses, ninth strike day looms
Five Catalan education unions spent the night inside the regional Education Department headquarters in Barcelona after a marathon negotiation session ended without agreement, setting the stage for a ninth day of strikes.
The breakdown
Representatives from five Catalan education unions — Ustec·Stes, Aspepc·Sps, CGT Ensenyament, La Intersindical, and COS — refused to leave the Conselleria de Educación y FP building on Thursday evening after more than five hours of sectoral talks failed to produce a breakthrough. The unions demanded the immediate presence of Education Minister Esther Niubó, insisting they would not leave until she came down with a proposal that would allow progress.
The Department brought the same proposal without moving a single millimetre.
The minister's intervention
Niubó, who was already in the building, eventually met with union representatives at 21:40. The encounter lasted barely seven minutes. She told them the government's offer was final and scheduled a follow-up meeting for Friday at 10:00. The unions, however, insisted on staying overnight to continue negotiating immediately.
The Department's proposal to the unions is good and we ask the unions to reconsider the situation and value the offer.
What's on the table
The Department's proposal includes a gross monthly salary increase of approximately 400 euros per teacher over four years, plus more than 7,000 new staffing allocations over the next four academic years. During the afternoon, the negotiating table split into two committees — one for pay and one for inclusive education — but neither reached consensus.
The unions' counter-claim
Union leaders flatly rejected the government's figures. Ustec·Stes spokesperson Iolanda Segura called the 400-euro figure "inflated numbers from the Department" and said the real increase on offer was just 120 euros over four years. Aspepc·Sps general secretary Ignasi Fernández confirmed that assessment, stating there was "not one euro more on the table." While unions acknowledged progress on other fronts — such as compensation for six-year periods (sexenios) and professorial chairs (cátedras) — the salary question remained the central sticking point.
The department is not understanding the message. We are not settling for 120 euros a month over four years.
The protest outside
Around 20 to 40 teachers gathered outside the Department building at approximately 22:10, banging pots and blowing whistles. They chanted "Niubó dimisión" (Niubó resign) and "Niubó da la cara" (Niubó face up). The unions confirmed they would spend the night inside and had arranged a new meeting with the Department for Friday at 10:00.
- Seventh sectoral meeting begins at the Education Department.
- Talks split into two committees: salary and inclusive education.
- After 5+ hours, unions declare no progress and demand Niubó's presence.
- Niubó meets unions for 7 minutes; declares offer final.
- Protesters gather outside; unions confirm overnight stay.
- Delegates begin internal meeting inside the occupied building.
- Next meeting scheduled; ninth strike day begins.
What comes next
Friday is already scheduled as a strike day with actions planned in the Baix Llobregat and Penedès regions. The unions insist the cycle of mobilisations continues and that the negotiation should have taken place within the framework of the strike committee. With the Department's offer declared final and the unions refusing to accept it, the conflict appears set to deepen into its ninth day of industrial action.
