HOPES that an indefinite strike that emptied classrooms across Catalunya was coming to an end have been dashed after a majority of teachers voted to reject a €700 million deal struck between regional government officials and trade union leaders.
An agreement signed by the Ustec, Aspepc, CCOO and UGT trade unions was announced on Friday before being put to members.
But the results of the week-long vote mean strikes are expected to resume across the northern Spanish region.
More than 65 per cent of teachers voted to reject the deal, with the CGT and Intersindical unions leading opposition to the agreement.
A total of 39,502 teachers voted ‘no’, whereas just 21,184 backed the deal.
Turnout was recorded as 61.1%, with more than 60,000 teachers taking part out of a total eligible electorate of 99,305.
According to El Pais, teachers would have received almost €400 per month extra over the next four years under the terms of the deal – including a monthly €172 supplement on top of a previously agreed €210 increase to the regional salary allowance.
The government also vowed to support the recruitment of an additional 6,400 new teachers and educational support staff during the same period.
That would have included 5,325 additional positions from 2027 onwards, alongside more than 1,000 new roles already approved for the next academic year.
Strike action was launched in early May amid increasing anger over pay and working conditions.
Last month, striking teachers blocked entry to the iconic Sagrada Familia basilica with tables and chairs.
Staff at the Antoni Gaudi-designed Barcelona tourist attraction were forced to shut the site’s doors for the day and refund all tickets purchased by visitors.
Around five per cent of all visitors to the Sagrada Familia come from the UK.
Click here to read more Spain News from The Olive Press.
