Dozens of people gathered in front of the Conselleria de Educación early this Monday to demand improved conditions in school canteens. The action, called by UGT, responds to the "growing workload" of this staff and follows a strike already held on May 4th.

Chanting "oversaturated canteen, neglected child," protesters gathered at the doors of the department led by Carmen Ortí on a day that also marks the start of the fourth week of indefinite strike in Valencian public education. The protest in the Valencian capital, where attendees called for the minister's resignation, was joined by protest actions in the other provincial capitals of the Comunitat Valenciana.

According to Amparo Pla, head of UGT's external area in Valencia, school canteen workers face ratios of up to 44 students in Primary Education, complicating proper attention given the increasing number of students with special educational needs. "The ratios have been obsolete since 2016, and after the pandemic, they removed support for special needs and children with functional diversity," Pla denounced.

This union representative, who is also a school canteen worker, explained that the reduction in working hours also makes tasks difficult: "The workday has gone from three hours to two or at most two and a half hours. Children have to enter and eat in 15 minutes for the next shift to come in," Pla remarked. "The physical stress and responsibility involved are incredible," added this worker, noting a growing number of sick leaves due to the difficulties in performing the job.

Furthermore, as UGT pointed out earlier this month, the high ratios faced by these professionals are compounded by "the implementation of multiple adapted menus (for cultural, health, and ethical reasons)" and the new royal decree establishing regulations for consuming more sustainable products for healthy and balanced nutrition. These factors, in their view, necessitate a reduction in ratios for more individualized service delivery.

Unlike the strike on May 4th, only rallies were called for this day. "The Conselleria imposed very high minimum services, and very few people could participate. Therefore, we decided to hold a rally today from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM so more people can demonstrate before going to work," Pla explained. It is worth noting that the General Directorate of Labor of the Generalitat established a minimum service of 60% to ensure at least one monitor per educational stage and "basic functioning of the service" in the kitchen. For 0-3 year olds and Special Education, a minimum service of 80% was set.