Early Childhood Educators in Balearic Islands Stage Strike Over Working Conditions

• Educators in the 0-3 age cycle across the Balearic Islands have launched a strike to demand improved working conditions.
• Strike participation reached 60% in Mallorca, 80% in Menorca, 40% in Ibiza, and 60% in Formentera.
• Teachers cite unsustainable workloads, a rising number of students with specific educational support needs (NESE), and stagnant resources as the primary drivers of the protest.

Core Demands

• Reform of the 'Minimum Decree' (Decreto de Mínimos) is the central demand, aiming to regulate staff-to-student ratios—currently 18 children per class in the 2-3 age group—and mandate educational partners in classrooms.
• Educators claim current government proposals are ineffective copies of previous regulations that fail to address classroom overcrowding.

Systematic Challenges

• The regional government's push for free four-hour childcare services has led to an influx of students without a proportional increase in staffing or support.
• Significant pay disparities exist across the sector, with educators earning anywhere from the minimum wage to 2,000 euros for the same qualifications and tasks.
• Unions, including CCOO, report that the government refuses to establish a direct negotiation table with workers, preferring to consult exclusively with private employers.