Catalan Teachers Prepare for Mass Protest Amidst Declining Wages
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Meta Description: Catalan secondary school teachers are preparing to demonstrate against significant wage losses, ranking among the lowest paid in Spain.
Catalan secondary school teachers are preparing to take to the streets as a new study reveals a dramatic decline in their real earnings. With a unified demonstration planned in the coming days, educators are voicing growing concerns over their diminishing purchasing power and the future of the region’s education system.
Two Months Worked for Free
According to a report released Thursday by Professors de Secundà ria (ASPEPC-SPS), secondary school teachers in Catalonia have experienced a 21.64% reduction in their real wages between 2010 and 2024. “This equates to working more than two months for free each year,” representatives of the union explained. The study attributes this loss to consistent cuts and freezes in both base salaries and supplementary pay, creating a widening gap between wage growth and the rising cost of living. While recent pay increases between 2022 and 2024 have been implemented, they have failed to fully offset the accumulated shortfall in inflation-adjusted compensation.
Among the Lowest Paid in Spain
The report further reveals that Catalan teachers are the third lowest paid in Spain, surpassing only their counterparts in Aragón and Asturias. The disparity is stark: teachers in Catalonia earn a gross monthly salary of €2,714, compared to €3,234 for teachers in the Basque Country – both regions with a high cost of living, as union officials pointed out.
Impact on Staffing and Education Quality
This financial strain is already impacting the region’s education system. The organization notes a “negative balance in the transfer competition,” indicating difficulty in attracting teachers to Catalonia. Specific subjects, such as computer science and Catalan language, are experiencing significant staffing shortages. “With precarious conditions for teachers, society is doomed to lose great professionals in the education sector and the transfer of knowledge will not occur,” the entity warned. .
Demands for Immediate Action
ASPEPC-SPS is demanding an immediate 25% salary increase. In addition to this substantial raise, the union is calling for the full restoration of the annual bonus payment and the repayment of outstanding seniority bonuses. They also advocate for aligning the region’s specific compensation supplement – currently lower than in other communities – with that of other civil servants in comparable positions.
While the union has not yet calculated the precise cost to the Generalitat, spokespersons acknowledge that the total amount could reach billions of euros. However, they emphasize that some measures, such as reinstating calls for professorships, would be relatively inexpensive and could be implemented quickly.
Threat of Strike Action
If these demands are not met, teachers have threatened to strike. Currently, Catalonia employs approximately 44,000 secondary school teachers. The situation underscores a growing crisis in the region’s education sector, with potentially far-reaching consequences for the quality of education and the future of its workforce.
