Negotiations have finally commenced for the VIII Collective Agreement concerning private education institutions, specifically those that receive public funding. This significant meeting involves representatives from both unions and employers, aiming to address several pressing concerns faced by approximately 200,000 workers in the sector. Jesús Gualix from UGT Servicios Públicos anticipates that the discussions will be lengthy and may not reach a solution in just a few meetings.
Pushing for Salary Equalization
One of the paramount issues under discussion is the demand for salary equalization between concerted and public school teachers. While base salaries of the two groups have drawn closer over time—with regional bonuses making the figures appear similar for inexperienced educators—significant disparities remain. Notably, concerted education teachers do not benefit from six-year increments in salary, as their public counterparts do, leading to an approximate loss of 100 euros per month for every six years of training they do not accumulate.
Variability in salary policies among different autonomous communities exacerbates these disparities. For instance, certain regions, like Andalusia, do not provide payments for three-year increments or offer five monthly payments for teachers reaching certain long-term milestones, further impacting relative earnings.
Equating Teaching Hours
An essential aspect of this agreement is the debate over teaching hours. Public school teachers currently handle a maximum of 25 hours per week in Primary education and 20 in Secondary education. Upcoming legislative changes aim to reduce these numbers, but concerted teachers still work under a demanding regime that doesn’t take into account session lengths effectively. For example, class durations in concerted institutions are counted in minutes, resulting in greater class workloads compared to public institutions.
To ensure fairness, educators are urging that teaching time be accurately reflected in session counts to alleviate the workload disparity. Gualix notes that “correcting and preparing for 29 classes is not the same as for 25 classes, even if both classes last 45 minutes.”
A Call for Equity Among Service Workers
The negotiations also spotlight the condition of service workers in educational settings. While a minority group within the workforce, enhancing their compensation remains crucial. Many of these workers, including doormen and receptionists, still earn below the statutory minimum wage (SMI). This is particularly concerning as such roles are often contracted through outsourcing, which can lead to exploitation and further wage suppressions. Gualix emphasizes their importance within the school context and calls for comprehensive revisions to ensure their salaries reflect the sector’s minimum standards.