Hundreds of schools in Madrid have shut down due to a two-day strike called by the city’s public secondary school teachers. The teachers are protesting against government plans for a new round of layoffs and longer hours for teachers who keep their jobs. Carmen Guaita is vice president of the teachers union ANPE.

Carmen Guaita, ANPE teachers union vice president: “In one year, Spanish teachers’ wages have been reduced, their pensions have been cut, their pensions have been frozen. The state and regional budgets for education have been reduced by two billion euros.”