Teachers extend protests across Valencian institutions
- Teacher unions in the Valencian Community announced expanded mobilizations next week amid stalled negotiations. - Actions target the Conselleria, the Corts, and public plazas while unions press for talks starting Monday. - Unions warn further escalation if no pact is reached, affecting schools and services (levante-emv.com).
1/ Teacher unions in Spain's Valencian Community announced on May 16 expanded protests for next week, targeting the regional education ministry (Conselleria d'Educació), the Corts Valencianes parliament, and public squares in Valencia, Alicante, and Castellón. 2/ The unions—primarily STEPV, ANPE, CCOO-PV, UGT-PV, and CSIF—demand immediate negotiations starting Monday, May 19, on pay raises, reduced teaching hours, and hiring more staff. Talks with the regional government have stalled since March. 3/ Protests kick off Monday at 9 a.m. outside the Conselleria in Valencia, followed by rallies at the Corts and plazas like Plaza de la Mare de Déu and Plaza del Ayuntamiento. Similar actions are planned in Alicante and Castellón. 4/ This escalation follows months of strikes: 90% of public schools closed on March 5, with 75% participation; another 85% strike on April 23 disrupted exams. Unions report 80,000+ teachers involved overall. 5/ Core demands include a 30-hour teaching cap (current average 28+ hours), €350+ monthly pay bumps to match other regions, and 4,000 new hires to ease overload. Valencian teachers earn €200-300 less monthly than in Madrid or Catalonia. 6/ Regional Education Minister Josep Martínez rejected new talks last week, calling demands "unrealistic" amid budget limits. The Botànic II government (left-wing coalition) faces €1.2B deficit pressures. Unions say no pact means indefinite strikes from June, closing schools. 7/ Protests remain non-disruptive so far—no school closures planned next week—but unions warn of "maximum escalation" if ignored, potentially halting end-of-year exams and summer programs for 450,000 students. Parent groups like CECE support but urge quick resolution. 8/ Background: Spain's public education faces chronic issues post-COVID—teacher shortages up 15% since 2020, class sizes averaging 28 pupils. Valencian unions coordinate with Andalucía and Castilla-La Mancha for national pressure. 9/ Track updates: Unions hold a press conference May 18 at 11 a.m. in Valencia. Regional parliament votes on education budget May 20. Full schedule at STEPV site.
