After weeks of mobilizations and road blockades, teaching staff in Catalonia could see an end to the strike with a pre-agreement between the majority unions and the Department of Education. The agreement foresees a salary increase of approximately €400 net per month for teachers, a measure similar to that already approved for the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan Police).

According to press details, the agreement represents an additional investment of around €726 million, adding to the €2 billion already previously committed. This salary improvement, to be implemented progressively until 2029, could place Catalan teachers among the best-paid in the country. The pact also includes a commitment from the unions not to raise new general demands during the agreement's validity.

The pre-agreement must now be ratified by the teachers themselves in consultations to be held over the weekend. Unions such as Ustec and Professors de Secundària have opened voting processes, while CGT has expressed its intention to campaign for a 'no' vote. Should it be rejected, the strikes and mobilizations planned for the following week would continue.

Recent protests have included actions such as blocking roads and railways, including the Vía Augusta in Barcelona and the access points to the monastery of Montserrat, where the rack railway and cable car were halted for several hours. These actions have generated tension with visitors and have drawn criticism from the public.

In other news, the article also addresses the issue of vandalism on the Catalan railway network. According to Renfe (Spanish national railway company), graffiti is removed from two trains daily, costing over €30,000 per day. The phenomenon of 'graffiti tourism' in Catalonia generates a considerable economic impact, with over €11.6 million in cleaning and repair costs during 2023. The company has announced additional surveillance measures, including dogs and drones, to combat this problem.