Mallorca nursery strike: 160 protest in Palma

Mallorca nursery strike: around 160 people protest outside the Balearic Parliament in Palma, Mallorca, on Tuesday, 6 October. They are backing a general strike by staff who care for children up to age three. By 11am, 20.4% of Mallorca’s early-years educators have joined the strike, according to the Balearic Department of Education and Universities. Across the Balearic Islands, the figure is 21%.

Palma Local Police put the crowd at around 160. Protesters wear yellow T-shirts and sound whistles, pots and megaphones.

Staff challenge nursery rules and pay

The workers want talks on a collective agreement and the government’s draft rules on minimum standards for nurseries. Their group, Xarxa 0-3, says the draft largely repeats the existing rules. Spokeswoman Noelia Jiménez says it says nothing about group sizes or children with special educational needs.

Jiménez also questions a promised move towards equal pay. She says it would cover only ten months, leaving staff earning €1,200 again in July and August.

Unions warn of another strike

The STEI union says the draft allows for one teacher for every three groups and recognises only four hours of educators’ work. CCOO says the workers have still had no negotiating meeting with the Balearic government. It warns that another general strike is possible.

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

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com