Barcelona teachers staged a strike on Tuesday and blocked access to Casa Batlló for four hours, as they urged a no vote on the new education pact. The protest came as educators continued to push back against the agreement reached last Friday between the Government of Catalonia and majority unions.
According to the Guardia Urbana, around 1,000 people took part. The General Confederation of Labour, or CGT, put the figure at 8,000. Minority unions including CGT, Intersindical and the Confederation of Trade Unions, CUERPO, joined the action.
The blockade began early, with around 200 teachers arriving at Casa Batlló before 09:30 in two bicycle groups from Fabra i Puig and the Campana area on Gran Via. Teachers placed desks and chairs at the entrance, stopping visitors from going in. Casa Batlló reopened to the public at about 13:00.
The protest was the second time demonstrators targeted a major tourist site, after a blockade of the Sagrada Família on 18 May. The march then moved from Palau Robert along Passeig de Gràcia to the Consorci d'Educació headquarters, with banners calling for more resources and inclusion in public education.
Ingrid Chavarria, general secretary of CGT Ensenyament, called the Casa Batlló action a success and warned that more protests could follow if the Generalitat does not respond to their demands. Gerard Calvera, spokesperson for COS, backed a negative vote in the consultation and said the mobilisation showed continued discontent among part of the teaching workforce. Laia Fonts, from Intersindical, also rejected the pact and said any next steps should be decided in assemblies.
The agreement includes a monthly salary rise of 400 euros over four years, or more staff for inclusive education. Majority unions involved are Comisiones Obreras, UGT, Ustec and Profesores de Secundaría. Teachers are voting on whether to accept it, with the result expected by Thursday midday. By Tuesday, 29,000 of the 96,857 teachers called to vote had already taken part, about 30% of those invited.
For more Barcelona coverage, see our Community and Sport pages.
Originally published by El País Barcelona. Read original article.
