THOUSANDS of people have taken part in demonstrations across the Valencian Community on the first day of an indefinite school teachers strike.
They are demanding better working conditions and improved salaries in the first-such industrial action since the 1980’s.
As of 1pm, unions claimed that up to 90% of classes within public education have been affected, while the regional Education Ministry estimate was 47%.
Gigantesca manifestación en defensa de la educación pública en la histórica huelga de docentes en el País Valencià. pic.twitter.com/CnrFuMmKEC— Fonsi Loaiza (@FonsiLoaiza) May 11, 2026
Large protests took place at midday in Alicante, Castellon, Elche, and Valencia.
Students and parents joined teachers on the streets.
Estimates suggested that tens of thousands took to the streets of Valencia, while the Policia Nacional estimated around 12,000 participants in Alicante.
Teaching union demands include the reduction of bureaucracy, lower teacher-pupil ratios in classrooms, and improvements in budgets for some students, especially in the area area of specific needs.
They say classes with over 30 pupils are common.
ALICANTE PROTEST
Over wages, the Education Ministry has offered to increase salaries gradually until they reach an extra €75 per month within three years.
Unions have called the offer unacceptable as it would fall well short in restoring pay
levels that have fallen over the last 20 years.
Jose Seco, from the CSIF union told the El Pais newspaper that the strike will ‘force the government to make a reasonable counteroffer and we will sit down to negotiate’
Xelo Valls, from the CCOO, said previous meetings ‘have been to tell us that there was no budget or to make us a derisory offer’
Education Minister, Carmen Ortí told the regional A Punt TV channel that she keeps ‘channels of dialogue’ open with the unions and that it is the government’s intention to ‘reach agreements’.
Orti said the next meeting with the unions was scheduled for June 9, but she added if they are willing to ‘sit down at the table again’, she would bring it forward.
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