Mallorca nursery staff back strike from 6 October

Around 100 people gathered in Palma’s Plaça de Cort on Thursday, 10 September, after nursery-school staff voted to support a possible general strike from 6 October. The workers at the Balearic Islands’ escoletes — early-years education centres — will now apply for the permits needed for the walkout. If it goes ahead, the strike will cover the whole archipelago.

The vote was taken at an assembly before the Palma protest, held on the first day of the new school year. Xarxa 0-3 coordinator Dolores Márquez and CCOO Baleares early-years education representative Pepa Ramis said the action is aimed at winning better working conditions.

Families to join 18 September action

Staff plan to remain inside several early-years centres on 18 September with families and pupils. It has not yet been decided how many centres will take part.

Márquez said the aim is to help families understand why the protests are continuing and to open the centres to anyone wishing to show support. Xarxa 0-3 and the unions want a Balearic-wide collective agreement, plus changes to the minimum standards decree and the decree covering canteens.

Six pay scales for the same job

CCOO Baleares says staff still face six different pay scales across the islands despite doing the same work. Pay depends on who employs them, Ramis said.

Talks with the Balearic Government are continuing, but Ramis said there had been no progress. A decree confirmed by Parliament on Wednesday to align pay for staff at certain state-supported escoletes not integrated into other centres only helps a very small group, she said.

CCOO, UGT and STEI backed the Palma protest. Xarxa 0-3 also called demonstrations in Ciutadella and Eivissa town for Thursday.

Topics: Strikes · Jobs & labour · Protests · Education · Politics · Palma

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com