Teachers Block N-260 Highway in La Seu d'Urgell to Demand Education Funding

Teachers from La Seu d'Urgell, led by the USTEC union, carried out intermittent closures on the N-260 highway near the Castellciutat roundabout on Wednesday morning, creating queues under a kilometre long, primarily for traffic heading into Andorra. Around 50 protesters started a slow march at 8am from near Tallers Valira, with Mossos d'Esquadra managing 15-minute openings for vehicles. The highway fully reopened by 10:15am as demonstrators proceeded to the city centre.

Authorities from Andorra's Mobilitat department and Catalan traffic services had issued prior alerts about potential disruptions on the N-260 until around 10:45am, advising alternative urban routes since no complete shutdowns were anticipated. Some drivers voiced frustration over the delays, particularly amid ongoing cuts to health and education budgets.

The protest formed part of USTEC's week-long campaign across Lleida province—Catalonia's largest teachers' union—building on a recent strike. It followed actions in Barcelona on Monday and Tarragona on Tuesday, ahead of a general stoppage and rally in Barcelona on Friday. Key demands include salary increases, lower student-teacher ratios, reduced bureaucracy, better inclusion support, and higher public education funding. USTEC dismissed last week's Catalan government agreement with UGT and CCOO as insufficient and lacking wide backing.

USTEC coordinator Andreu Múmbru called the action effective, with similar disruptions across Catalonia intended to force fresh negotiations. CGT representative Ismael Sánchez, from Joan Brudieu institute, underscored needs for ratio cuts, inclusion funding, pay rises, and relief for rural schools facing substitution gaps, rigid minimum service rules, and administrative overloads unsuited to small, mobile-staffed facilities.

Subsequent activities featured noisemaking outside Pau Claris primary and Joan Brudieu secondary from 10:30am, a march along Avinguda de Pau Claris to Passeig de Joan Brudieu, a 12:30pm rally at Plaça del Codina drawing over 70 people—rising to nearly 100 by midday—with chants for better pay and ratios, a 2:30pm shared lunch in Plaça de les Monges, and a 4pm assembly to organise Friday's Barcelona event. Pickets provided ongoing information, backed by groups like Autea Pirineus highlighting rural priorities.

Parallel protests occurred at A-2 exits near Alcarràs and Soses, C-55 in Solsona, and locations in Clariana del Cardener and Manresa, with Revolta Pagesa support at autovia exit 451 from 7:30am. Mobilitat posted live updates on social media.