Mallorca nursery staff plan lantern protest in Palma

Mallorca nursery workers plan to form a human chain with lanterns in Palma, Mallorca, on 20 November. The protest is set for 18.00 on Passeig Sagrera, outside the Consolat de Mar. Organisers say talks over working conditions have broken down.

The Xarxa 0-3 network and unions CCOO, UGT and STEI say the Balearic Islands Department of Education and Universities broke off dialogue in August. They dispute public statements by the education chief and regional president that talks are regular and ongoing.

Almost two school years after their campaign began, the educators say their working conditions have not improved. They warn that staff are leaving and that the quality of education in nursery classrooms is suffering. According to Xarxa 0-3, the department has not delivered a supplement meant to bring employment conditions into line, revised minimum standards or taken steps towards a Balearic-wide collective agreement. Nor has it set up a negotiating forum for nurseries, known locally as escoletes.

Workers also say they do some of their work outside working hours. They remain unsure how the regional government plans to take over management of all the nurseries, and say new dining-room rules cannot be put into practice without more staff. The network and unions want negotiations to resume immediately.

Topics: Jobs & labour · Protests · Palma

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com