Spain’s Childcare Workers Set for Nationwide Strike Demanding Higher Pay and Fewer Kids per Class

Early childhood educators across Spain have announced a nationwide strike scheduled for May 7. The CCOO Education Federation has joined ongoing regional strikes in the Balearic Islands, Navarre, and Madrid. Furthermore, a massive demonstration is planned for May 23 in the nation's capital.

The first cycle of early childhood education (ages 0 to 3) employs approximately 61,000 people in Spain, 97% of whom are women. Currently, the average salary for an educator in private or outsourced public centers is €1,221 per month before taxes—a figure that sits below Spain’s national minimum wage. This pay covers a 40-hour work week, excluding the additional time required for lesson planning and preparation.

The workers' key demands include significant salary increases, an expansion of the public nursery network, and a reduction in the student-to-teacher ratio. The Madrid Early Childhood Education Platform (PLEI) is pushing for radical changes to group sizes:

• Infant groups: 3 babies per educator (down from the current 8)
• Ages 1–2: 5 children (down from 14)
• Ages 2–3: 6 children (down from 20)

Success has already been seen in the Balearic Islands and Navarre, where a two-month indefinite strike resulted in improved conditions and pay raises. In response to the growing pressure, the Ministry of Education has promised to revise the decree regulating minimum requirements for childcare centres by this summer. While the government has approved a bill to lower class sizes and reduce hours for primary and secondary school teachers, it is still awaiting parliamentary approval.