Teacher strike in sight?
The SIAU union begins a consultation among the teaching staff to assess an indefinite strike in the face of "growing unease" and criticism of the Balearic government's educational management
PalmaThe Independent, Autonomous and United Union (SIAU) has initiated a consultation with all teachers in the Balearic Islands to assess the call for an indefinite strike, in a move that aims to join the mobilizations already underway in Catalonia and the Valencian Community.
The union denounces a "growing unease" within the educational community and accuses the Administration of governing "with its back to teachers", ignoring labor and linguistic demands that it considers structural.
Among the main criticisms, SIAU points to the Government's decisions on linguistic matters, especially the possibility of accessing permanent positions without proving the Catalan language requirement, a measure they describe as a "direct attack" on the native language and the teaching collective.
The union also warns of a process of "privatization and progressive dismantling" of public education, with examples such as the announced closure of IES Politècnic, which they consider a sign of the deterioration of the public system in favor of private offerings.
SIAU also denounces the situation of interim teachers, who continue to not have rights recognized such as the equalization of permits and leaves and the consolidation of real job stability. It also calls for improvements for groups such as vocational training teachers, music and performing arts teachers, and early childhood education 0-3, whom they describe as "structurally precarious".
Another point the union raises is the increase in aggressions against teachers and the growing sense of institutional abandonment, in addition to the added pressure from the cost of living in the Islands, especially due to the housing crisis and insularity.
In this context, SIAU considers that the salary and labor conditions have deteriorated to an "unsustainable" point and denounces the flight of professionals to the private sector and other administrations.
With this consultation, the union wants to measure the collective's support for a possible indefinite strike and open a new cycle of mobilizations in defense of public education and teaching dignity in the Balearic Islands.