Education: Niubó confident of resolving conflict with unions soon

The Minister of Education expresses optimism about negotiations and calls on striking unions to join the agreement.

Generic image of a microphone on a podium.
IA

Generic image of a microphone on a podium.

Minister of Education, Esther Niubó, has expressed optimism regarding negotiations with education unions, anticipating a resolution within "days or weeks" and urging for union unity.

Minister of Education, Esther Niubó, has shown optimism about negotiations with unions and made a new call for striking unions to join the agreement already reached with CCOO and UGT. "I don't know if it will be days or weeks, I would like it to be days," she stated, expressing confidence in resolving the conflict and assuring that they are "closer" than a week ago. Niubó acknowledged the reasons for the teachers' strike but pointed out that the issues are the result of years of "accumulated fatigue, deficit, and underfunding," highlighting that the government has listened and "moved significantly" to address these demands.
The minister defended the agreement with CCOO and UGT, explaining that the current objective is to bring more unions on board to "broaden the pact as much as possible." Regarding salary increases, she described the 30% rise in the specific complement, frozen for 25 years, as a "giant leap," to which a new linear complement will be added "that needs to be finalized." "This government's commitment to improving conditions and recovering purchasing power is evident and has been demonstrated," she declared.
Concerning inclusive education, Niubó admitted that it "can function better" and assured that the agreement includes numerous measures in this direction. She proposed promoting a "national agreement" to develop the inclusive system, involving departments such as Social Rights or Health, and local entities. She also stressed the need for this system to extend to the 0-3 age group and post-compulsory education.

"This government's commitment to improving conditions and recovering purchasing power is evident and has been demonstrated."

Esther Niubó · Minister of Education
Regarding the infiltration of two Mossos d’Esquadra officers into a teacher assembly in Barcelona, Niubó stated she learned about it through the media and initially thought it "wasn't true." She considered that the Minister of Interior, Núria Parlon, provided the necessary explanations and proposed "a solution," noting that Interior has communicated that protocols will be reviewed. When asked if she could guarantee that similar situations would not recur, she referred to Minister Parlon's statements.
Concerning the presence of plainclothes officers, Niubó specified that out of the 14 centers initially slated for the pilot plan, only half remain. She attributed the participants' withdrawal to "media noise" and insisted that the initial request came from territorial services and directorates, acknowledging the "lack of appropriateness" of the measure.