Overview

• More than 16,000 public‑school teachers across roughly 700 centers were called to a one‑day regional walkout, the first in Extremadura’s public education sector in 13 years, to demand salary homologation.
• Participation figures are disputed, with unions claiming over 80% follow‑through and about 8,000 attendees at the Mérida march, while the regional education department reports 36%–43% turnout as schools stayed open under minimum services.
• The regional government says it is open to resume negotiations but is not improving its offer of €80 per month in 14 payments, estimating an annual budget impact of nearly €23 million.
• Unions reject the proposal and press for either €150 more per month within two years or €200 within three, warning of further mobilization and arguing Extremadura’s teachers risk being the lowest paid by January 1, 2026.
• The strike unfolds against OECD Talis findings that Spain’s teachers report very high job satisfaction and lower exit intent despite rising stress, heavier classroom discipline demands, training gaps, and cautious classroom use of AI reported by roughly a third of staff.