Palma.—The President of the Balearic government, Jose Ramon Bauza remained defiant last night as striking teachers threatened to continue with their industrial action into next week.
Bauza said that his door was always open to negotiate with the teachers who are striking over plans to introduce a three language teaching system, in English, Catalan and Spanish. "We are willing to talk but so far are calls have gone unanswered by the other side," he said. The President is coming under increasing pressure from those within his own party who want the dispute settled sooner rather than later. But Bauza repeated once again that the three language learning system was included in their manifesto at the last elections. "We have the support of the electorate who gave us an overwhelming mandate to rule at the ballot box.
Teachers have tried to up the pressure calling on parents to keep their chidlren away from school during the industrial action. The government has hit back reminding parents that it is an offence to keep pupils away from school if there is no justified reasons.
Officially, school can´ be closed and the government has demanded that minimum services of a third of all staff at each school work on strike days. This has ment that eventhough there has been strong support for the industrial action children are still going to school.
The strike is also becoming increasingly unpleasant with both sides clashing on numerous occasions during the week.