Around 4,000 teachers and supporters marched through the centre of Alicante on Tuesday as the indefinite education strike entered its fourth week.
The demonstration took place almost simultaneously with similar protests in Valencia and Castellón, keeping pressure on the regional government amid an unresolved dispute over pay and working conditions in public education.
According to the Government Sub-delegation, 4,000 people joined the Alicante march. The protest began at the steps of IES Jorge Juan, a regular meeting point for the city’s education mobilisations, before moving through the city centre.
From early morning, groups of teachers gathered at different points across Alicante before joining the main march. The protest marked the 23rd day of strike action since the indefinite stoppage began in the province.
Teachers Reject Regional Government Offer
Many of the banners and chants focused on what teachers described as an “unworthy” agreement proposed by the Consell.
Unions and teaching assemblies have rejected the offer from the regional Ministry of Education, arguing that it does not go far enough to improve salaries and working conditions.
The demonstration also carried a strong message against police violence after an incident in Valencia last Sunday, where a teacher was pushed by a riot police officer. The episode has caused anger across the education community and added further tension to the dispute.
Families Urged to Join Friday Protest
The Platform in Defence of Public Education has called for a family strike this Friday, June 5.
The group is urging families not to send their children to school that day as a show of support for teachers and public education. At the same time, it has asked teachers to attend work on Friday in order to reduce the financial impact of further strike action on staff.
The platform said the regional education ministry must reach a solution urgently and negotiate seriously with the union platform to bring the strike to an end.
Two Major Mobilisations Each Week
Teachers’ assemblies and the main unions have agreed to adapt the format of the protests from this week.
Instead of maintaining the same level of daily mobilisation, large joint actions will now be concentrated on two days each week. On the remaining days, local assemblies will decide how to continue organising under the wider umbrella of the indefinite strike.
The unions say the new approach has two aims: to help teachers sustain the protest over time and to ensure that all actions promoted by assemblies remain legally covered by the strike call.
The decision follows a consultation in which more than 21,000 public school teachers backed continuing the strike.
The next major demonstration in Alicante has been called for this evening, Thursday 4 June, at 6.30pm.
