On 8 September 2026, the first day of the school year in Catalonia, a teachers’ strike led to road and rail blockades early in the morning. The main areas affected were Barcelona and Lleida. According to consistent reports, at around 7.15am about 80 people gathered on the Ronda Litoral at exit 22 in Barceloneta, blocking both directions. About ten minutes later, the Ronda de Dalt at Santa Coloma de Gramenet was blocked in both directions. Both pickets were cleared by the Mossos d'Esquadra at around 8.20am.
At around 7.55am, a group of about 150 people stopped traffic on the C-58 near Sant Quirze del Vallès, heading towards Barcelona; the Catalan police ended the action with several police vehicles at around 8.25am. In Esplugues de Llobregat demonstrators slowed traffic into the city at Plaça Elisabeth Eidenbenz and Avinguda Diagonal. The blockades caused traffic jams and delays during the morning commute.
In Lleida, demonstrators occupied railway tracks at Lleida–Pirineus, in the early hours of the morning. As a result, high-speed trains on the Barcelona–Madrid route were affected for a time. Reports of the duration of individual disruptions varied by section; the situation gradually returned to normal over the course of the day.
The strike was supported, among others, by the union USTEC and the Assemblea Educativa de Catalunya. Its demands include smaller classes, more staff for inclusive education and increased public funding for the school system. The Generalitat de Catalunya had ordered minimum service levels at educational establishments for 8 September to ensure supervision and care.
The Síndic de Greuges spoke out against suspending school trips as a form of protest. The Generalitat’s education ministry referred to ongoing talks with the unions but initially made no commitments on their core demands. Union representatives said that the form of any further protests would depend on the progress of negotiations; no decision was made on Tuesday about additional strike days.
According to authorities and media reports, the demonstrations were largely peaceful. The Mossos d'Esquadra enforced road clearances and managed traffic; no arrests or injuries had initially been reported. Further gatherings were announced for the afternoon. Comprehensive figures on strike participation were not yet available that morning, but the administration and unions were expected to publish their figures separately during the day.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).