Teachers’ unions and the Catalan Educational Assembly (AEC) have called a Catalonia-wide strike for Tuesday 8 September, the first day of the 2026–27 school year. Families should expect possible disruption at schools and institutes and make childcare arrangements where possible, although the CGT union says children without another care option should still be taken to school.

The action is the sixth Catalonia-wide teachers’ strike call in less than a year, according to Diari ARA. USTEC, the CGT, Intersindical, COS and the AEC say the Department of Education has not restarted negotiations after teachers rejected a preliminary agreement in May.

“It will be a very difficult strike for everyone, for the workers and for the families. It is also a very hard strike to carry out.”Laura Gené, CGT education secretary

Gené said families able to do so could support the action by not bringing pupils to school. She added that children who have no support network to stay with should attend, particularly if staying at school is the least stressful option for them.

Staffing and inclusive education remain at the centre of dispute

The unions and AEC are seeking more staff, lower pupil-to-teacher ratios and additional support professionals, particularly carers, for inclusive education. They also want a timetable for negotiations on education funding and protections for the use of Catalan in schools.

The Department of Education has announced that the new academic year will begin with 85,052 teachers, around 1,000 more than last year, according to Diari ARA’s report on the department’s plans. It also reported 531 new educational support staff posts, taking the total to 4,564.

  • 500 additional reception-classroom posts are planned, taking the total above 2,000. These classrooms help newly arrived pupils learn Catalan and settle into school.
  • 204 additional places are planned at special education centres.
  • A pilot scheme will place shared administrative managers in schools in three municipalities to handle budgets, purchasing and contracts.

Education Minister Esther Niubó has asked unions to pause mobilisation while the department works with what she described as a work agenda for dialogue during the year. USTEC and CGT say they want a defined negotiating timetable with specific commitments.

Parents and carers should check messages from their child’s school before Tuesday morning and follow any arrangements the centre sends for the first day of term.

Reported by en.ara.cat, EFE, lavanguardia.com, [email protected], elmon.cat, elperiodico.com, catalannews.com, David Expósito J, elpais.com, Diari ARA.