An Ibiza secondary-school teacher who supports the demands of the 11 November general strike decided to attend work rather than join the stoppage, explaining that she could not afford to lose part of her salary while facing the island's high housing costs.

Speaking to La Voz de Ibiza, the teacher estimated that taking part in the strike could cost her around €100 in lost wages. She acknowledged, however, that she had not checked the exact amount. She lives with her partner, and they pay between €1,200 and €1,300 a month in rent.

Her account highlights the financial dilemma faced by some workers in Ibiza: supporting demands for more affordable housing and better living conditions while feeling unable to sacrifice a day's income to demonstrate that support.

The interview took place during the general strike on Wednesday, 11 November, which called for action on housing affordability, wages and the rising cost of living.

"I Completely Support the Strike, but I Have Decided to Go to Work"

The teacher said she considered the strike necessary and supported its demands, particularly those relating to the housing situation in Ibiza and Formentera.

She also wanted the mobilisation to send a message to the political parties and whoever takes responsibility for government after the upcoming elections.

However, despite agreeing with the reasons behind the strike, she decided not to stop working.

The main consideration was the possible financial deduction. Asked how much she believed she would lose, she estimated approximately €100, while making clear that the figure had not been confirmed.

She explained that the cost of housing had already placed considerable pressure on their household budget, making the prospect of losing additional income difficult to accept.

Her experience illustrates how the financial circumstances that motivate some workers to support a strike can also prevent them from participating.

Housing Costs Influence Workers' Ability to Join Industrial Action

The teacher's situation is particularly relevant to Ibiza, where the cost and availability of accommodation have become major concerns for residents and workers.

She and her partner pay between €1,200 and €1,300 per month in rent. Against that background, even a relatively limited reduction in monthly income can make a difference to their ability to cover regular expenses.

Her decision does not reflect opposition to the strike. Rather, she described a conflict between supporting collective demands and protecting her household's finances.

She also expressed some discomfort about not joining colleagues who had decided to stop working, recognising that they were making a financial sacrifice in support of the same issues.

Teacher Participation Varied Across Ibiza's Secondary Schools

The figures provided by the Association of Secondary School Directors of the Pitiusas show different levels of participation among teachers at the island's secondary schools.

According to the association, participation reached 30% at IES sa Blanca Dona and IES Sant Agustí. At IES Quartó del Rei in Santa Eulària, the figure was 27%.

IES Quartó de Portmany in Sant Antoni and IES sa Colomina each recorded 25% participation. The reported figures were 28% at IES Algarb, 16% at IES Balàfia in Sant Llorenç and 13% at IES Isidor Macabich.

These figures relate to the individual schools for which the association provided information. They should not be interpreted as a definitive island-wide participation rate.

The wider figures also varied according to the source. The Balearic Government reported 14.9% participation in education across the islands among the relevant Govern workforce, with Ibiza recording 16.09%. By contrast, CCOO and UGT estimated participation at 50% across public and private education in the Balearic Islands.

The different figures reflect separate reporting sources and workforce coverage, rather than a single agreed measurement.

Student Absences Reached 95% in One Sant Antoni Institute

The reported impact on students was considerably higher at some schools.

At IES Quartó de Portmany in Sant Antoni, the Association of Secondary School Directors reported that 95% of students in the third and fourth years of ESO, first and second years of Bachillerato, and basic vocational training did not attend classes on 11 November.

The figure was reported by Fran Tienda, president of the association. It applies to the specified student groups at that institute, not to all students across Ibiza.

At the same school, reported teacher participation was 25%, highlighting the difference between staff participation and student attendance during the strike.

The Teacher Also Cited Her Responsibility Towards Students

Financial considerations were not the only factor behind the teacher's decision.

She also explained that she felt it was important to be present for students who attended school during the strike. Working with adolescents, she believed the day offered an opportunity to explain why the industrial action was taking place and the issues behind it.

She said she was aware that many colleagues would be absent but wanted to maintain support for the students who were still attending classes.

The teacher also referred to the importance of maintaining minimum services, although she did not say that she had personally been formally designated to provide them.

Despite choosing to work, she said she intended to take part in one of the demonstrations organised during the day.

Housing and Wages Remain Central Concerns for Ibiza's Education Sector

The difficulties described by the teacher reflect concerns also raised by education organisations in the run-up to the strike.

Alternativa Docent supported the 11 November mobilisation, highlighting the difficulty of finding affordable accommodation, insufficient salaries and pressure on educational resources. The organisation has warned that housing costs can make it harder to attract and retain teachers in the Balearic Islands.

For professionals working in Ibiza, the relationship between salaries and accommodation costs has become a particularly important issue.

The teacher's account offers an individual perspective on that problem. Although she supported the strike's objectives, the possibility of losing part of her income was enough to influence her decision not to join the stoppage.

Her experience illustrates a difficult contradiction for workers facing high living costs: the same financial pressures that make demands for better wages and affordable housing urgent can also make taking part in industrial action harder to afford.