The 0-3 educators' strike reaches Parliament: "Childhood is not cared for in a rush"

About a hundred 0-3 educators protested this Tuesday in front of the Parliament during the strike day called in the sector, which, according to the follow-up data provided at 11:00 AM —with 74% of centers reporting—, has a 21% turnout across the Balearic Islands. By island, the impact is 20.39% in Mallorca, 41.99% in Menorca, 9.95% in Ibiza, and 6.45% in Formentera. For their part, the unions report a higher impact of the strike: 60% in Mallorca, 80% in Menorca, 40% in Ibiza, and 60% in Formentera. The workers gathered in front of the Chamber while the plenary session was being held to demand improvements in their working conditions and in the care of children. The demonstrators displayed signs with messages such as '0-3 is for educating, not babysitting', 'Our agreement, our future', 'Canteen regulations', and 'Childhood cannot be cared for in a rush', among others.

The strike day comes after months of mobilization in the sector and has among its main demands the approval of an autonomous agreement that regulates the working conditions of professionals in the preschools of the Balearic Islands. The workers also demand changes in the regulation of the first cycle of early childhood education and more resources for the centers.

Educators report that working conditions are insufficient and demand that their work be dignified, both in terms of salaries and working hours and workloads. They also request a revision of the minimum decree that regulates 0-3 year-old centers, with the goal of improving ratios and guaranteeing more resources and personnel. This Tuesday's protest coincides with the Parliament plenary session, so the workers wanted to take their demands directly before the institution where the Government's political action is debated. With banners and shouts, the educators have demanded a response to their demands.

The strike takes place at a time when the sector is demanding that its claims be taken into account in the educational and budgetary planning of the Balearic Islands. Professionals consider that the 0-3 stage is a fundamental piece of the educational system—as shown by the expansion of public and subsidized places carried out by Education—and that the conditions in which they work have a direct impact on the quality of care for children.