The blockade on the A-3
Shortly before 8:30 on Monday, 19 October, protesters stepped onto the A-3 motorway at Moratalaz, on the approach to Madrid, and stopped traffic at the peak of the morning rush. Traffic authority sources cited by Europa Press placed the spot at kilometre 5, on the slip road toward the M-30 ring road inside the capital. Demonstrators in green shirts and the yellow garments associated with the early-years strike set rows of school desks across the carriageway in front of a large banner defending public education. Chants calling for public education to be defended rang out while hundreds of drivers heading to work were held up. Reported crowd sizes range from dozens to about 200 people. Police intervened, the protesters withdrew, and the carriageway was clear again shortly after 9:00.
What the strike demands
Unions want the teaching timetable cut to 17 weekly periods in secondary and vocational training (FP) and to 22 in primary schools. They also seek smaller class sizes, more guidance and diversity-support staff, and measures against school segregation. The list includes restoring liaison classrooms (aulas de enlace) and scrapping the current bilingual model. On pay, the demands are a monthly rise of 600 euros, pay equalisation and a danger supplement for Special Education staff. Together these points frame the dispute as one about working conditions as well as wages.
Scope and backers of the strike
The indefinite strike began on 14 October and covers all levels of public education except university. Platforms from the Complutense and Rey Juan Carlos universities have nonetheless joined. CCOO, CGT and UGT back the call, alongside platforms such as Educación Especial Digna, Menos Lectivas and Queremos FP. CSIF has also called the strike and runs parallel protest actions. More than 20 organisations, including teachers, families and students, back the call in the region. The stoppage continued on Monday, which Europa Press counted as the fourth day of the strike.
The main dates of the dispute, from the start of the strike to the road block, are set out below.
- Indefinite public education strike begins in the Community of Madrid
- Protesters block the A-3 near Moratalaz at rush hour
- Protesters leave the carriageway after police intervene
The protesters' complaint
Protesters accused the regional government led by Isabel Díaz Ayuso of failing to negotiate and of institutional mistreatment of teachers, young children and families. The Plataforma de Escuelas Infantiles said the blockade aimed to draw attention to the lack of negotiation with the education department over the collective dispute. In its statement, the platform argued for public education across every stage.
Public education is a right, from early childhood through to vocational training or university.
The platform added that the stages most neglected by public institutions need greater support from everyone. The strike remains indefinite.