The indefinite strike by Valencian teachers is temporarily suspended from this Friday, June 12. This was announced by STEPV, CCOO and UGT, the three organizations that kept the call active, which began on May 11, after conveying the results of the consultation carried out among Valencian teachers on June 9 and 10.
The decision puts an end, at least temporarily, to more than a month of mobilizations, rallies, demonstrations, sit-ins and strike days that have turned the educational conflict into one of the biggest clashes between the educational community and the regional administration, making the struggle a historic one in the Valencian Community.
After officially notifying the Ministries of Labor and EducationSTEPV, CCOO and UGT released a joint message highlighting the magnitude of the mobilizations that have taken place since May. "The Valencian teaching staff has maintained a historic cycle of a whole month of strikes, with rallies, demonstrations, acts of protest and also of common reflection"the labor unions pointed out.
The unions believe that the mobilization has demonstrated the organizational and pressure capabilities of the teaching staff and maintain that "The teaching staff is demanding much more than what the regional minister has ultimately offered at the negotiation tables."Despite the suspension of the strike, the organizations assure that the demand remains open and that the defense of public education will continue in the coming months.
The teacher consultation paved the way
More than 30.000 teachers participated in the votewhich concluded with an 87% rejection of the overall proposal presented by the Ministry of EducationHowever, among those who rejected the agreement, a majority opted to temporarily suspend the strike in order to keep other avenues of mobilization and negotiation open.
That result led STEPV, CCOO and UGT to announce that Thursday, June 11th would be the last day of the strike before proceeding with its temporary suspension.
The Sectoral Committee before the suspension
A new Sectoral Education Committee meeting was held on Thursday morning. According to the unions, the main objective was to convey to the Regional Ministry the position expressed by teachers in the consultation and to reiterate the need to reopen issues that continue to generate strong opposition among educators.
Among them, the following stood out again: salaries, the recovery of purchasing power, ratios, teaching staff, infrastructure, or the political linguisticsThe unions maintain that most of the proposals submitted by the administration remain insufficient and that the teaching staff made this assessment clear in the vote held this week.
Bureaucratic simplification, the only agreement with broad union consensus
The meeting also served to formalize some of the partial agreements that the Ministry has been trying to finalize for weeks through detailed documents. The main progress was made in the area of bureaucratic simplificationThe only bloc that had obtained clear majority support in the teachers' consultation. Finally, this agreement was signed by STEPV, CCOO, UGT and CSIFANPE was the only force that did not endorse the document.
According to the Ministry, the document includes measures such as the approval of an administrative simplification decree within six months, the implementation of the digital teaching file, the use of artificial intelligence tools for the generation of administrative documentation, the recognition of the right to digital disconnection and the regulation of work outside the educational center.
The Minister of Education, Carmen Ortí, stated that the agreement implies "a significant step towards reducing the bureaucratic burden that teachers face on a daily basis".
A divided union map regarding the remaining agreements
La photography The outcome of the negotiations, however, reflects that consensus is far from being reached on most issues. While the bureaucratic simplification agreement garnered four union signatures, the remaining documents continue to generate significant disagreements.
The agreement on remuneration and working conditions It only retains the support of ANPE and CSIF, who signed it weeks ago. However, STEPV, CCOO, and UGT insist on reopening negotiations and adapting the document to meet teachers' needs. It's worth remembering that in the last consultation, 90% were against signing the pay agreement. Regarding ValenciaThe Ministry only managed to reach an agreement with CSIF.
Conversely, the blocks related to ratios, teaching staff, educational inclusion, Training Professional and infrastructure They continue to lack the support of any of the unions represented at the Sectoral Committee. This situation reflects the same pattern shown in the results of the teachers' consultation, where these very sections received very high levels of rejection.
The Ministry argues that the positions are getting closer.
Following the meeting, the Regional Ministry issued a press release stating that negotiations are progressing and highlighting the agreement reached on bureaucracy. Furthermore, the regional government affirmed that it continues working to reach consensus on the remaining issues and announced further meetings to continue negotiating the outstanding points.
Regional Minister Carmen Ortí maintained that positions are converging, especially on issues related to educational infrastructure, and defended the position that the Generalitat is keeping on the table. "the most ambitious offer ever made for Valencian public education".
According to data provided by the administration itself, The overall proposal includes investments exceeding 3.300 billion euros over the next few years, including actions on infrastructure, staffing, educational inclusion, reduction of ratios and salary improvements.
The conflict enters a new phase
With the temporary suspension of the indefinite strike, the Valencian education conflict now enters a different stage. The unions are returning to the classrooms with the strike suspended, but they are keeping open avenues for mobilization and negotiation.Meanwhile, the Ministry continues to try to broaden consensus on the different sections of its educational proposal.
After more than a month of conflict, both sides agree that dialogue will continue. The difference remains that Most of the demands that started it all remain unresolved..
