Protests in Tarragona against the latest Education proposal

Almost fifty people have protested in Tarragona to reject the latest proposal that the Department of Education has presented at the last negotiation table.

Oliver Thansan
Oliver Thansan
25 May 2023 Thursday 10:51
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Protests in Tarragona against the latest Education proposal

Almost fifty people have protested in Tarragona to reject the latest proposal that the Department of Education has presented at the last negotiation table. The unions consider it "insufficient" and say that it represents a "regression" with respect to previous proposals. In addition, they demand a better public education and have regretted that the Department continues to impose the school calendar in a "unilateral" way.

At the same time, they have denounced the precariousness of temporary and non-permanent labor personnel and have requested that it be guaranteed that there will be no layoffs as a result of the stabilization process. Teachers do not rule out new protests and days of strikes to reverse the cuts.

The president of the Board of Non-university Teaching Personnel of the ST of Tarragona, Alexis Auderset, has affirmed that the latest offer from the Department of Education is "clearly insufficient". Right now, he has regretted that this proposal implements the two unpaid teaching hours for those over 55 years of age and does not guarantee salary equalization for vocational training teachers either.

“The Department is determined to start the course on September 6 and that implies two problems: one that the teachers will not be able to prepare the classes. Those of primary school must go morning and afternoon and they will not be able to prepare them either. And, second, that "the high temperatures in the classrooms make it very difficult to work," Auderset has denounced. The same thought is shared by Jorge Fernández, representative of the CGT of Ensenyament Camp de Tarragona, who has asked for time to prepare, program and plan his school year "with dignity".

According to Fernández, the Department's latest offer also represents a “setback” compared to previous proposals. By way of example, he points out that in the matter of the six-year terms, there had been talk about the recognition of the debt, although without specifics. Now, he indicates, they are not recognized. "This worries us because the Department is not taking steps forward and we need to respond with mobilizations," he warned.

In fact, from the collective they have made an appeal to the educational community, and especially, to families, to join the mobilizations. Fernández has considered that the demands are not only labor, but also affect the educational quality of children. "Without mobilizations we will not change the course of this, now is the moment to force, now with the municipal elections it is a good moment to change these minimum proposals", he said.

The action, which took place this Wednesday, May 25, convened by the Board of Non-university Teaching Personnel of the ST of Tarragona, has brought together about fifty people in front of the territorial Education services. All of them have blocked the street for approximately one hour and have participated in a performance, where the Minister Josep González-Cambray has been the center of criticism.