This strike, the first general indefinite one since 1988, has been called by unions such as STEPV, CCOO, UGT, and CSIF, and supported by ANPE, with approximately 80,000 teachers called to strike. Throughout the morning, informational pickets and concentrations have been formed in numerous secondary education centers across the Valencian territory.
At IES Ramon Muntaner in Xirivella, one of the striking teachers stated that almost 70 out of the 80 teachers on staff have mobilized, emphasizing the urgent nature of their demands. This participation exceeds that of the general strike on March 31, in which about 50 teachers from the same center mobilized.
“"Some media have reduced the strike to a salary issue, but the demands go much further."
Among the most prominent issues, teachers highlight the urgency of reducing student-teacher ratios. They point out that with only one teacher in classrooms of up to 30 students with great diversity, including students from other countries or with special educational needs such as autism, it is very difficult to meet the particular needs required.
This situation not only harms the teaching staff but also detracts from the quality of education received by students. Furthermore, they allude to the lack of support staff in classrooms and the need to expedite the coverage of sick leaves.
They also focus on improving infrastructure, due to the deterioration of buildings, the lack of basic equipment in classrooms, and air conditioning conditions. At IES Gonzalo Anaya, striking teachers criticize that in winter students wear blankets and in summer some have suffered heatstroke, a situation exacerbated in prefabricated classrooms after the DANA (cold drop).
The teaching staff denounces the progressive change in linguistic policies, which reduces the weight of Valencian in the educational system. This contrasts with the previous system, applied during the Pacte del Botànic era, which guaranteed a more structured plurilingualism plan and established minimum percentages for the use of Valencian to ensure its presence not only as a subject but also as a language of learning.
The salary issue is also on the negotiation table. Teachers denounce that salaries have been frozen for years, with an accumulated loss of purchasing power that unions estimate between 4,000 and 6,000 euros, and they maintain that Valencian teachers are among the lowest paid in Spain.
“"We face the mobilization with enthusiasm given the support of the unions and the follow-up the strike is having."
One of the strikers assures that they did not wish to reach an indefinite call, but they consider it necessary given the lack of progress in negotiations with the Ministry of Education. Days before the strike began, the Minister of Education, Carmen Ortí, sent a letter to families defending the Generalitat's management and assuring that no student or family can be captive of a union conflict, insisting that the evaluation of second-year Bachillerato students is not negotiable. This communication has been described by union representatives as an absolute insult and lack of respect to confront families and teachers.
Teachers emphasize that their main demands respond to the need to guarantee higher quality public education for students.
